YOGYAKARTA – Researcher from Faculty of Pharmacy of UGM, Prof. Dr. Ediati Sasmito, S.E., Apt., has made use of noni (Morinda citrifolia) as drugs for immunity. The polysacharide in it can be used as immunostimulator to help restore immunity. “The immune system has to be normal, if too high it causes allergy, if low it is vulnerable to bacteria infections,” said Ediati, Thursday (20/3).
Ediati and her team combined this with another fruit, namely extract of mangosteen rind. The zanton in the rind may become antioxidant that also affects immune system.
She explained that the combination of the two extracts would become a natural neutreliser of immune system. Ediati said her formulation would take form as herbal drug so it will minimise any side-effects.
The doctoral graduate from State University of Antwerp also observed the noni extract effect in people with cancer. “We knew that cancer drugs may reduce the immune system. With immunostimulator from the noni, the immune system may return to normal,” said the lady born in Tegal, 62 years ago.
In her opinion, there are cells in the human body that have the role in forming immunity. By giving immunostimulant, it will be visible whether the cells duplications are increasing or not. Her research suggests that the immune system of the mice decreases when given cancerous cells.
“After the noni extract is given, it increases the cells that have the role in increasing immune system,” said Ediati, hoping that the research would be useful for society, particularly people with cancer.