Immunomodulator Potential of Phyllantus Acidus Leaf Extract in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) Models

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by high level of blood sugar, or hyperglycemia. The hyperglycemia condition in T1DM patients results in complication that made patients have higher chance to be infected with various infectious disease. Phyllantus acidus is a local plant usually consumed for its fruit, but other parts of the plant still saw lack of use locally. This study was aimed to examine the potential of Phyllantus acidus leaf extract to be immunomodulator in T1DM-induced animal model. Leaves of P. acidus was extracted using maceration and its content was analyzed using LC-HRMS. T1DM was induced in mice models using alloxan. P. acidus leaf extract was given for 10 days and in the 11th day, mice were injected with Staphylococcus aureus to induce macrophage activity. Phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was evaluated from Giemsa-stained smear, while spleen was prepared into 4 µm histological section using paraffin method and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, then examined of its structure. Results showed that phagocytic activity increased significantly in mice treated with extract compared to negative control, however extract did not significantly improve spleen structure in T1DM mice compared to normal control. The secondary metabolites identified in extract including sorbic acid, L (-)-Pipecolinic acid, and Υ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). Metabolites contained in the extract possibly affects the innate response of the mice models, however the short period of treatment resulted in insignificant effect to adaptive immunity. Thus, it can be concluded that P. acidus leaf extract was able to increase innate immune response in T1DM mice models, however further study is needed to examine longer period of treatment.