Objective: To examine the potent of water as a solvent agent in the preparation of traditional herbal medicine.
Methods: Water extracts of 18 plants were prepared through reflux and examined (25 mg/mL) to evaluate their possibility for inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). The determination of IC50 values was performed for the samples possessing more than 80% inhibition. Meanwhile, those exhibiting IC50 values more than 7.0 mg/mL were further profiled for their chemical constituents through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement.
Results: About 44% (8) of the examined samples showed more than 80% inhibition against PTP1B. The water extracts of Elephantopus scaber, Helicteres isora aerial parts, Elaeocarpus grandiflorus (E. grandiflorus) fruits, Melaleuca leucadendron leaves, and Quercus infectoria gum had IC50 values ranging from 2.05 to 6.90 mg/mL. Meanwhile, Andropogon nardus and Centella asiatica were at the area of d 3.0–4.0 ppm. Further, the 13C NMR observation of samples possessing the most intensive signals in their proton NMR Cinnamomum burmannii and E. grandiflorus showed the peaks at the area of d 60–90 ppm as the supportive evidence for sugar group signals. Intriguingly, a disaccharide from E. grandiflorus could be an active inhibitor towards PTB1B.
Conclusions: In contrast to the mainstream solvents currently used in modern herbal manufactures especially Jamu medicine in Indonesia, pure-water-extracted materials should be reconsidered and could be reemerged for future studies and for the manufacture of herbal medicines. In addition, the activity of Jamu components should be confirmed that their antidiabetes and antiobesity activities could be through the inhibition of PTP1B.

Objective To search an herbal material, capable of inhibiting plaque producing bacteria Streptococcus mutans. Methods Twenty materials comprising 10 flowers and 10 rhizomes were extracted with 70% ethanol. Their activity was then examined at a concentration of 10% (w/v) against Streptococcus mutans in vitro on Mueller–Hinton media. Erythromycin (Oxoid, 20 μg disc) was used as a positive control. Meanwhile, to establish a fingerprint guide for authentication or quality control, the most potent material was further analyzed regarding its chemical constituents by means of reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Results Of the tested samples, Sesbania grandiflora (S. grandiflora) flower and Costus speciosus rhizome extracts showed the most potent activity with inhibited zone diameters of 18.5 and 14.8 mm, respectively. On the other hand, other extract plants showed a diameter zone in the range of 0.5–10.6 mm or being inactive (diameter = 0 mm). The activity of S. grandiflora was comparable to that of erythromycin (diameter = 18.0 mm). The best separation was achieved on HPLC system with acetonitrile-water with a ratio of 2:8, and a flow rate at 0.5 mL/min. TLC, meanwhile, was featured on chloroform–methanol (8.5:1.5) as a mobile system. Conclusions S. grandiflora flower is a promising material to be developed as the active ingredient of anti-plaque toothpaste as well as mouthwash solution. The developed HPLC and TLC system can be used for a further standard in its material authentication as well as for a fingerprinting of quality control during the manufacturing process.

Objective: To examine the potent of water as a solvent agent in the preparation of traditional herbal medicine. Methods: Water extracts of 18 plants were prepared through reflux and examined (25 μg/mL) to evaluate their possibility for inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). The determination of IC