UJI AKTIVITAS IMUNOMODULATOR EKSTRAK ETANOL UMBI BIT (Beta vulgaris L) SECARA IN VITRO

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L) is one of the plants most widely used by Indonesians, namely as a food ingredient rich in vitamins and minerals. In beet plants, there is a red pigment which is a nitrogen compound with high antioxidant activity. The antioxidant content of beetroot contains polyphenols, betalains, and flavonoids. Various types of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and parasites are found in the environment around humans so that they can cause various infections in humans. To fight these pathogenic compounds, the human body must be equipped with a defense system or immune system in the body. The purpose of this study was to determine the content of flavonoid compounds in the ethanol extract of beetroot, to determine the total flavonoid content of the ethanol extract of beetroot, and to determine the immunomodulatory activity in vitro of the ethanol extract of beetroot. This research was started by carrying out the extraction process of beetroot with maceration method using 70% ethanol as a solvent. Then conducted a qualitative test using the TLC method. Followed by a quantitative test to determine the value of total flavonoid levels using the colorimetric method and immunomodulatory testing, in vitro namely macrophage phagocytosis activity test using phagocytosis index parameters and phagocytosis capacity and lymphocyte proliferation test using the MTT method Assay with the proliferation stimulation index parameter. The results showed that based on the results of the identification test for chemical compounds using the TLC method from the ethanol extract of beetroot positively contained flavonoids. The total flavonoid content obtained from the ethanol extract of beetroot was 1.43 mgEK/g of extract. In the immunomodulatory test, the ethanol extract of beetroot could increase the phagocytosis activity of macrophages which was significantly different compared to the control. The concentration of 500 μg / mL showed the highest activity, namely (phagocytosis capacity = 82% ± 0.03; phagocytosis index = 4.46 ± 0.31). The proliferation stimulation index shows that the results obtained have no activity in increasing lymphocyte proliferation so that do not have the potential to increase adaptive immune response. This study concludes that the ethanol extract of beetroot can increase the phagocytosis activity of macrophages but it has no activity in increasing lymphocyte proliferation.