Introduction: Stichopus hermanii (SH), which contains various antioxidant agents, tends to protect oxidative stress caused by chronic cigarette smoking (CCS). This study, therefore, aims to investigate the protective effect of SH supplementation against CCS-induced oxidative stress in rat salivary glands. Methods: A total of 30 male Wistar rats, which were equally divided into the control (C), cigarette smoke (CS), and treatment (T) groups, were used to carry out this research. In T group, 17 mg/kg BW of SH was administered for 90 days. Their salivary glands were removed for oxidative stress marker analyses ie malondialdehyde (MDA) level, total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, with the data analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test to obtain a p-value of less than 0.05, which were considered statistically significant. Results: The results showed that in the CS group oxidative stress occurred which was characterized by significantly increased MDA levels, reduced TAS, SOD and CAT activity. While the T group significantly decreased MDA levels, enhanced TAS, SOD and CAT activity. Conclusion: In conclusion, SH supplementation tends to prevent oxidative stress produced by CCS in rat salivary glands.

ABSTRACT Methanolic extract from the leaves of Acanthus ilicifolius L. (A. ilicifolius L.) is a potent inhibitor of Candida albicans (C. albicans) growth and anti-inflammatory. C. albicans causes oral candidiasis in immunosuppressive condition. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling via p38 appears to discriminate between yeast and hyphal cells of C. albicans. Activation of p38 MAPK by hyphae results in the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. The p38 MAPK activation is known to impair corticosteroid action. The research was conducted to investigate the effect of methanolic extract A. ilicifolius L. treatment of oral candidiasis with the immunosuppressive condition through enhancement of p38 MAPK expression in the epithelial cells. Immunosuppressed conditions were obtained when 16 healthy male Rattus norvergicus (Wistar) was given oral administration of dexamethasone and tetracycline for 14 days and induced with C. albicans (ATCC-10231) 1 McFarland. The subjects were divided into four groups (n = 4/group): immunosuppression (IS), immunosuppression with oral candidiasis without treatment (ISC), immunosuppression with oral candidiasis and nystatin treatment (ISC+N), and immunosuppression with oral candidiasis and A. ilicifolius L. treatment (ISC+AI), and were treated for 14 days. Later, the rats were euthanised, and their tongue were biopsied. The p38 MAPK expression was subjected to immunohistochemical examination, observed under a microscope (400× magnification) and statistically analysed (one-way ANOVA, LSD-test, p < 0.05). The p38 MAPK expression of ISC+AI (36.05 ± 1.54) was higher than IS (26 ± 2.32), ISC (26.4 ± 3.71), IS+N (34.2 ± 0.99). Significant differences existed between ISC+AI and ISC+N to IS and ISC (p < 0.05). No significant differences were present between IS and ISC; ISC+AI and ISC+N (p > 0.05). Therefore, this treatment could enhance p38 MAPK expression in oral candidiasis with the immunosuppressed condition.
Acanthaceae ; Candidiasis, Oral ; Immunosuppression Therapy ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases