Immunomodulatory and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. Ethanol Extract

Lemongrass is known to be used as a cooking spice. In traditional treatment settings, this plant is believed to have immunosuppressive activity and is used as the complementary treatment for autoimmune disease. This research was conducted to examine the antioxidant, immunosuppressive, and anti-inflammatory activities from ethanol extract of C. citratus (EECC). The antioxidant capability was assessed using the DPPH method to scavenge radicals. In BALB/c mice, various parameters such as phagocytic index, organ index, antibody titer, and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction were studied to evaluate immunomodulatory activity. The anti-inflammatory effect was tested against a rheumatoid arthritis animal model. Results showed that the EECC has antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ 193.07µg/mL The EECC showed immunosuppressive activity which was marked by the phagocytic index value below 1. The organ index of the animals treated with the EECC was also lower than the control group. In the test against specific immune response through antibody titer and DTH reaction, EECC showed immunosuppressant activity. In the rheumatoid arthritis animal model, EECC showed anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the paw inflammation at doses of 750 and 1500mg/kg of rat BW. It can be concluded from the experiment that ethanol extract of C. citratus has immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activity.