Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Postpartum Herbal Remedies Use in Aceh, Indonesia

Authors

  • Saudah Saudah Department of Biology Education, Postgraduate Program, Universitas Serambi Mekkah, Banda Aceh 23245, Indonesia
  • Rubiah Rubiah Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Serambi Mekkah, Banda Aceh 23245, Indonesia
  • Zumaidar Zumaidar Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia
  • Itsnatani Salma Department of Pharmacy, Muhammadiyah College of Health Sciences Lhokseumawe, Lhokseumawe 24351, Indonesia
  • Rahmawati Rahmawati Department of Elementary School Teacher Education, Universitas Almuslim, Bireuen 24261, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60084/mp.v4i1.358

Keywords:

Maternal herbal therapy, Ethnopharmacology, Natural bioactive compounds, Indigenous medicinal, Drug discovery

Abstract

Traditional medicinal plants continue to play an important role in postpartum care in Aceh, Indonesia, yet their pharmacological properties remain insufficiently documented. This study examined the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and cytotoxic profile of five commonly used postpartum plants: Glochidion zeylanicum var. zeylanicum, Glochidion obscurum, Mesua ferrea, Vitex pinnata, and Salix babylonica. Ethanolic leaf extracts were prepared by macerating the leaves and analyzed for major secondary metabolites. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, while cytotoxicity was assessed through the brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT). All extracts contained flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, and terpenoids, with alkaloids detected in most species. G. obscurum showed the strongest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 2.30 µg/mL), followed by M. ferrea, V. pinnata, and G. zeylanicum, whereas S. babylonica exhibited moderate activity. BSLT results indicated high cytotoxicity in M. ferrea, V. pinnata, and S. babylonica (LC50 < 10 µg/mL), while G. obscurum and G. zeylanicum demonstrated moderate toxicity. These findings provide scientific support for the traditional postpartum use of these plants, particularly regarding antioxidant and restorative functions. However, the strong cytotoxicity observed in several species highlights the need for cautious dosage and further toxicological validation. Additional studies are recommended to isolate active constituents and clarify their safety and therapeutic relevance.

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Published

2026-03-03

How to Cite

Saudah, S., Rubiah, R., Zumaidar, Z., Salma, I., & Rahmawati, R. (2026). Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Postpartum Herbal Remedies Use in Aceh, Indonesia. Malacca Pharmaceutics, 4(1), 6–14. https://doi.org/10.60084/mp.v4i1.358

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Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): March 2026

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Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Saudah Saudah, Rubiah Rubiah, Zumaidar Zumaidar, Itsnatani Salma, Rahmawati Rahmawati

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