CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF Curcuma mangga AND ITS IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT

The present study was conducted to correlate between the phytochemical constituents in the extract of C. mangga rhizomes and its immunomodulatory effect on phagocytosis of mice leukocytes. The phytochemical screening was performed using the standard method, while qualitative analysis of curcumin in C. mangga extract was examined using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of C. mangga were introduced to carbon clearance method for their immunomodulatory potential. The phytochemical screening on nhexane and ethanol extracts of C. mangga rhizomes revealed the presence of steroids and terpenoids. Meanwhile, glycosides, saponins and flavonoids were detected in ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts. The TLC analysis led to the identification of curcumin in all extracts. All the samples tested demonstrated the immunostimulatory effect on phagocytosis ability of mice leukocytes. Of all the extracts, n-hexane extract displayed the strongest stimulation on phagocytosis effect but there was no significantly different (P>0.05). The results suggest that the immunostimulatory activity of extract on phagocytosis ability was due to the presence of its major constituents although other constituents may also contribute.