Abstract:
Background: Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa (Karamunting) is one of South Kalimantan's biodiversity. In
previous research on asthma and coal dust exposure models, nebulization with an ethanol extract of
R. tomentosa leaves has been shown to reduce inflammatory cells. This study aimed to investigate
the anti-inflammatory activity on the stabilization of red blood cell membranes and to identify the
chemical compounds present in extracts of R. tomentosa leaves.
Methods: Anti-inflammatory effect of R. tomentosa leaves was evaluated by in vitro red blood cell
membrane stabilization methods. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory sodium diclofenac was used as the
reference drug. The content of chemical compounds in the ethanol extract of R. tomentosa leaves was
identified using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS).
Results: The results of inhibition of red blood cells membrane lysis showed the n-hexane fraction
(concentration 25 ppm), ethyl acetate fraction (concentration 50 ppm), and a fraction of water
(concentration 50 ppm) with an inhibition level of 54.5%, 81.8%, 63.6%, respectively. The ethyl
acetate fraction showed the highest inhibition of hemolysis. This result is not significantly different
from the standard anti-inflammatory sodium diclofenac (90.09%). Oleanonic acid and ursonic acid
were two similar metabolites in subfractions ethyl acetate 1, 2, and 3, which may have anti inflammatory properties.
Conclusions: R. Tomentosa leaves can have potency as an anti-inflammatory by increasing the red
blood cell membrane stability equal to lysosome cells, depending on the concentration.
