Immunomodulatory potency Etlingera rubroloba A.D. poulsen fruit ethanol extract against macrophage phagocytic activity and CD4 levels in wistar male rats

Etlingera rubroloba A.D. Poulsen is an endemic plant in Southeast Sulawesi and taxonomic affinity with Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Smith. The fruit of E. elatior has been reported to provide immunomodulatory activity by increasing the phagocytic activity of macrophage cells. This study aimed to determine the immunomodulatory potency of the E. rubroloba fruit ethanol extract with parameters of phagocytic activity and CD4 levels. This study used 24 male Wistar rats divided into 6 treatment groups, namely normal, negative (Na-CMC 0.5%), positive (Phylantii extract 0.135 mg/kgbw), extract dose I (200), dose II (300), and dose III (400) mg/kgBW. The treatment was given 3 mL each orally for seven days. All mice (except the normal group) were infected with 0.5 mL of Staphylococcus aureus intraperitoneally on the eighth day. The data were statistically analyzed by measuring macrophage phagocytic activity microscopically using Giemsa staining and CD4 levels using the sandwich ELISA method. The results showed that dose 300 mg/KgBW demonstrated the highest average percentage of macrophage cell phagocytic activity and CD4 level, which were 80.5% and 227.49 ng/mL, respectively. They were higher than the positive control treatment. Based on the results of Tukey's post hoc statistical test, all treatment groups had significant differences from the positive control group in both parameters (P<0.05). This study concludes that the ethanolic extract of the fruit of E. rubroloba dose of 300 mg/kgbw has potential as an immunomodulator where increased phagocytic activity is associated with increased CD4 levels.