Extracts Ethanol of Centella Asiatica Enhance Interferon-gamma and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Macrophage Culture Infected by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Micobacterium tuberculosis has capacity to manipulate host defense pathway, particularly the ability to inhibit cellular immune response. Centella Asiatica is a medicinal plant which able to treaat inflammatory condition and infection. The aims of this research is to determine the effect of the extracts of Centella asiatica in enhancing interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha in macrophages culture infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Cultured macrophages derived from monocytes were isolated from human peripheral blood vessels. Macrophages that pretreated with extracts ethanol Centella asiatica for 2 days were infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Rv. After 2 hours, the cultured macrophages were washed with 2o/o FBS-HBSS to remove unphagocSosed bacteria. The resultant macrophages were further cultured in fresh medium (0.2 ml) at 37 C in a CO2 incubator for up to 2 days. Interferon- gamma and tumor necrosis factor- alpha levels were measured using ELISA method. The result have shown that the extracts ethanol of Centella asiatica at 200 ppm and 400 ppm were able to enhance significantly interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In conclusion, the extracts ethanol of Centella asiatica can enhance interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in macrophages culture infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis,