Potential of Dadap Ayam (Erythrina Variegata) Plant as Herbal Medicine

Traditional medicines originating from plants have been widely used as an alternative therapy and extensive research have identified several bioactive compounds of the plants. In Indonesia, Erythrina variegata (Leguminosae) plants have been used for medication to many diseases including anthelmintic, anticancer,antimalaria, and antifertility.Objective: In the course of our continuing search for novel bioactive compounds from Indonesian Erythrina plants, we isolated and described several bioactive compounds such as anticancer, antimalaria, and antifertility from E. variegata. Method: Activity assay in vitro against breast cancer cell T47D using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) method, activity assay in vitro against antiplasmodium using lactatedehydrogenase (LDH) method, and antifertility activity on spermatozoa Rattus novergicus. Their chemical structures were determined based on spectroscopic evidences and comparison with related compound previously reported. Result: Extract and compounds of E. variegata showed anticancer in vitro against breast cancer cell T47D, antiplasmodial in vitro K1 and 3D7 strain parasites, and antifertility on spermatozoa R. norvegicus with midle and high activity. Besides that, the toxicity assay of it was also conducted using white mice to show the safety grade of the plant. Conclusion: This results strongly suggested that E. variegata is a promising sources as herbal medicine of anticancer, antimalaria, and antifertility agents