Introduction: Coconut shell liquid smoke (CS-LS) from Cocos nucifera L. has been traditionally used by Indonesians as a natural preservative. Besides that, liquid smoke is also used as a medicine to treat various types of wounds. During the storage, liquid smoke resulting from pyrolysis is still questionable in relation to the oxidation process and changes in its properties and potentials. We observed the physical characteristics, components, toxicity, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive properties, and effect in oral ulcer healing of CS-LS. Methods: Acidity was analyzed using a digital pH meter, density test was analyzed using a pycnometer, and the components were determined using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Eight concentrations of CS-LS (1%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 12%, and 14%) were tested on baby hamster kidney (BHK21) for the extract toxicity, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema for its anti-inflammatory properties, hot-plate test for its anti-nociceptive, and traumatized labial fornix incisive inferior for its oral ulcer healing. Results: The acidity of CS-LS was 2. 296 and the density was 1. 0102 g/mL. The major components analyzed were phenol (32. 75%), 2-methoxy-phenol (17. 45%), and furfural (13. 09%). The CS-LS 100% and CS-LS 8% were the optimum concentrations for maintaining the BHK21 and increasing the number of fibroblasts in oral ulcer healing. The CS-LS 100% showed potent anti-nociceptive ability compared to other concentrations (P = 0. 001), but not for the anti-inflammation properties. Conclusion: CS-LS is a promising natural herb for oral medicine, especially oral ulcer medicine.

Background and purpose: Research on new drugs with a natural source and low side effects is a priority in pharmacology studies. The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis effects of bee pollen extract in the air pouch model of inflammation. Experimental approach: To achieve this goal, male rats were moderately anesthetized and then 20 and 10 mL of sterile air were subcutaneously injected into the intrascapular area of the back of the rat on first and third days, respectively. On day 6, inflammation was induced by intrapouch injection of carrageenan. Normal saline in the control group and bee pollen methanolic extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/pouch) were administered at day 6, simultaneously with carrageenan, and then for 2 consecutive days only normal saline and the extracts were injected. Following sacrificing the rats the pouch was opened and the exudate volume, leukocyte accumulation, granulation tissue weight, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α ) concentrations were determined 3 days after induction of inflammation. In order to investigate the angiogenesis, the granulation tissue was removed, homogenized in the Drabkin's reagent, and then centrifuged. The supernatant was filtered and the hemoglobin concentration was determined using a spectrophotometer. Results: Bee pollen extract significantly decreased the exudate volume, leukocyte accumulation, granulation tissue weight, angiogenesis, VEGF, and TNF-α concentration. Conclusion and implications: The findings of the current study revealed that bee pollen methanolic extract has an anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis effect, which could be attributed to the inhibition of VEGF and TNF-α production in the inflammatory exudates.

Introduction: Recent studies have reported that breast cancer may affect the physiology of other organs, including oxidative stress in the liver. On the other hand, some agents such as white turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Meniran (Phyllanthus niruri) seem to maintain redox stability and immunomodulation. Both of them are combined into Cheral potion. This study was aimed to investigate the Cheral efficacy in modulating oxidative stress based on Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), HEME OXIGenase (HO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines under breast cancer condition in vivo. Methods: Nrf2, HO, and SOD from hepatocytes, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ ) from splenocytes were measured by flow cytometry after 14 days of Cheral administration. Results: The results showed that mice model for breast cancer underwent oxidative stress denoted by high levels of HO, and SOD accompanied by increased levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the cancer group compared to normal healthy group (P < 0. 05). In contrast, Cheral treatment was able to modulate redox balance by declining levels of HO, SOD, TNF-α , and IFN-γ , but not Nrf2, compared to cancer group (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: The results showed that breast cancer could alter the host’ s physiology, including liver oxidative stress. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ might contribute to regulation of redox balance in the liver. However, Cheral has potency as an alternative therapeutic agent to reduce oxidative stress in the liver under breast cancer condition.