Comparative Studies of Two Indonesian Medicinal Plants, Bidara Upas (Merremia mammosa Lour. Hall.f) and Adas (Foeniculum vulgare Miller): Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Antimicrobial Activities.

Bidara upas (Merremia mammosa) and adas (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) are 2 medicinal plants that grow abundantly in Indonesia. This study investigated the chemical composition and biological activity of M. mammosa and F. vulgare. Phytochemical screening was conducted on both plants. However, only the essential oil of F. vulgare was analyzed for GC spectra. A total of 23 compounds were identified from the essential oil of F. vulgare, with anethole being the main constituent (79.02 %). The extract of M. mammosa had a higher total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of 50.241 ± 0.012 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per gram extract and 53.968 ± 0.742 mg quercetin equivalent (QRE) per gram extract, respectively. In the DPPH antioxidant test, the IC50 value indicated that M. mammosa extract had better activity than F. vulgare, with an IC50 of 89.139 ± 0.189 μgmL-1. This is supported by the TAC (Total Antoxidant Capacity) and Reducing Power Hexacyanoferrate (III) values, which also show a better antioxidant potential in M. Mammosa than in F. vulgare. In addition, M. mammosa has been shown to have an IC50 value of 2.215 ± 0.015 mgmL-1 against α-amylase inhibition, which is slightly different from F. vulgare with an IC50 value of 2.467 ± 0.025 mgmL-1. Overall, the antimicrobial activity of F. vulgare and M. mammosa was found to be resistant against S. mutans bacteria. The ethanol extract of F. vulgare was more potent against gram-positive bacteria and the essential oil was only effective against fungi. On the other hand, the ethanol extract of M. mammosa and the combination of their ethanol extracts showed no significant activity against bacteria and fungi. The combination of water extracts is most effective against 2 microbes, namely S. epidermis and E. faecalis with MIC 7.81 and 3.91 mgmL-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]