Application of Scaevola taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. Reduce Pro-inflammatory Cytokines Interleukin-1β in Sprague Dawley Mice Suffering from Mastitis

BACKGROUND: Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue, usually caused by bacteria. Mastitis stimulates pro-inflammatory cytokines. The cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a crucial mediator of the inflammatory response. This cytokine has adverse effects of hosting immunity that mediates resistance to pathogens and also exacerbates damage during chronic disease and acute tissue injury. Scaevola taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. has been used as an ethnomedicine for healing sores in several provinces in Indonesia. AIM: This study aimed to assess the profile of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β through the treatment effect of leaf extracts of S. taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. as adjuvant for healing mastitis. METHODS: This study was a true control group experiment using the pre-test-post-test control design aimed to measure the effect of hydroalcoholic compounds in leaf extracts of S. taccada on the systemic pro-inflammatory activity of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The treated animals were 18 mice of Sprague Dawley strain induced by Staphylococcus aureus. These treated mice were divided into three groups in which each group consisted of six mice. The mice in the Group I (negative control) were given 1 ml aquabides/250 g body weight, those in the Group II (positive control) were delivered with 9.6 mg/ml amoxicillin/250 g body weight, and those in the Group III (experimental) were given 9.6 mg amoxicillin/250 g body weight + 400 mg/ml leaf extracts of S. taccada/g body weight for 5 days, respectively. Pathological examinations were carried out from the inflamed tissues to prove the healing process of the treated mice. IL-1Β levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc tests. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences of IL-1β levels after the administration of leaf extracts of S. taccada among all the treated mice groups at p < 0.05. The Group III had the lowest IL-1β level with the mean value ± 1.45 pg/ml compared to the IL-1β level in the Group II (positive control) with the mean value ± 3.82 pg/ml and the IL-1β level in the Group I (negative control) with the with mean value ± 5.22 pg/ml. The pathological analysis of breast tissues of the treated mice proved that leaf extracts of S. taccada (Gaertn Roxb.) could reduce damaged tissues, cellular infiltration, and subcutaneous edema induced by this pathogenic microorganism. CONCLUSION: Leaf extracts of S. taccada had a significant function as adjuvant for healing mastitis by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β.