Objective. Medicinal plants can  be found throughout the world and used long ago by the people for treatment. However, the most commonly found in the tropics so know the origin of the plants systematically is important to understand and study widely and efficiently (1). Ants nest types of plants that have been widely studied and published is M. pendens, M. tuberosa and Hydnophytum formicarum Jack. Based on the study of plants ants nest (Mymercodia pendens) known to contain important active compounds such as tocopherols, flavonoids, phenolic, and a rich variety of minerals, such as Ca, Na, K, P, Zn, Fe, Mg. Ants nest (Mymercodia sp) are known to have activity as an antibacterial, antioxidant, imunomudulator, gout, and anticancer (2). Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to cause damage to cells and tissues and eventually cause disease, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, Alzhaemer's disease, Parkinson's, liver dysfunction, and atheroslerosis. Protection against free radicals can be improved with the intake of antioxidants (3). The increasing need for safe antioxidant compounds as a result of side effects of the use of synthetic antioxidants such as BHA, BHT, dan TBHQ are potentially cancerous, so research on sources of antioxidants derived from nature is increasing, including the Myrmecodia erinacea Becc.  This aims study to determine the antioxidant activity of ants nest  (Myrmecodia erinaceae Becc.) in-vitro with method of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (a, a- diphenyl-bpicrylhydrazyl; (DPPH).

Method. Simplicia coarse powder was extracted by maceration at room temperature using 80% ethanol. Extracts obtained successively fractionated using n-hexane and ethyl acetate. Subsequently, fractions examined the chemical constituents, the content of total flavonoids and total phenol. Antioxidant activity was measured by spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 517 nm using a free radical DPPH.  .

Result. The phytochemical screening of this study indicate the presence of steroids, flavonoids, terpenoid, alkaloids, and saponnins. The result of this study showed                n-hexane and ethyl acetate fraction of Ant nest containing 0,002 and 0.010% of total flavonoids and 0,06 and 0,34% of  total phenol. It is  has a very strong antioxidant activity with IC 50 values of 25.53 and  2,69 mg / mL. the antioxidant activity index (AAI) of n-hexane and ethylacetate fraction were   1,26 and 11.29. Quercetin is a widely distributed flavonoid in plant tissue so it is easy to find.  Quercetin is a compound that has antioxidant activity by decreasing the amount of superoxyde anion in enzymes and non enzyme systems.

Conclusion. The study showed n-hexane and ethyl acetate fraction of Ant nest (Myrmecodia erinacea Becc.) could potent source of antioxidants.

Keywords: Phytochemical, Myrmecodia erinacea Becc, antioxidant, AAI, DPPH

Reference

1.        Lay MM, Karsani SA, Mohajer S, Abd Malek SN. Phytochemical constituents, nutritional values, phenolics, flavonols, flavonoids, antioxidant and cytotoxicity studies on Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl fruits. BMC Complement Altern Med [Internet]. 2014;14(1):152.

2.        Hamsar, M.N., and Mizaton H. Potential of Ant-Nest Plants As An Alternative Cancer Treatment. J Pharm Res. 2012;5(6):3063–6.

3.        Alam MN, Bristi NJ, Rafiquzzaman M. Review on in vivo and in vitro methods evaluation of antioxidant activity. Saudi Pharm J [Internet]. 2013;21(2):143–52.