Potency of Massoia Bark in Combating Immunosuppressed-related Infection

BACKGROUND: As part of our search for new potential natural resources to eradicate infection, we have revealed the prominent potency of massoia bark (Massoia aromatica Becc, Lauraceae) in combating immunosuppressed-related infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract was prepared by macerating the pulverized dried bark in ethanol 95%, followed by solvent evaporation. The oil was extracted from the dried bark by steam-hydrodistillation of which preparative thin-layer chromatography was performed on the oil to isolate the active constituent, C-10 massoia lactone (ML). Anti-biofilm assay against Candida albicans was conducted on polystyrene 96 wells microtiter plates, followed by a confocal laser scanning microscope observation to get three-dimensional profiles of the affected biofilms. Effects on the hyphae development inoculated on RPMI-1640 agar plates were observed for 7 days. Influences of samples on mice macrophage phagocytosis were examined by an in vitro technique. Samples concentration tested were in the range of 2.0–0.0625 mg/mL and done in triplicate. RESULTS: Massoia bark extracts (oil and solid phase) and ML exhibited promising activities as anti-biofilm against C. albicans at IC(50) 0.074% v/v, 271 μg/mL and 0.026 μg/mL, respectively. The ML did not inhibit the hyphae development at the concentration tested; however, the extracts showed inhibition at 62.5 μg/mL. Macrophage phagocytosis stimulation was correlated to the ML content. CONCLUSION: Massoia bark is potential to be developed as anti-infective in immunosuppressed condition of which the C10 ML (C(10)H(16)O(2)) plays a major role in exerting activity. SUMMARY: Massoia bark extracts (oily and solid phase) and C-10 Massoia lactone exhibited promising activities as antibiofilm against Candida albicans at IC(50) are 0.074 %v/v, 271 μg/mL and 0.026 μg/mL respectively. The major constituent, C-10 Massoia lactone (C(10)H(16)O(2)) plays major role in exerting anticandida activity and potentially acts as an immunomodulator as well. However extracts showed inhibition of hyphae development of C. albicans which showed no correlation to the content of the Massoia lactone. Abbreviations used: GC/MS: Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, ML: Massoia Lactone, TLC: Thin Layer Chromatography, ATCC: American Type Culture Collection, RPMI: Roswell Park Memorial Institute, PBS: Phosphate Buffer Sterile, LSM: Laser scanning microscope, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, UV: Ultra violet, SDB: Sabouraud dextrose agar, MeOH: Methanol, LB: Luria Bertani, EtOAc: Ethyl acetate, CLSM: Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope, PI: Propidium iodide.