Students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) taking part in the Curcuwin team under the Student Creativity Program for Exact Sciences Research (PKM-RE) are investigating the potential of combining curcumin and cinnamon extract to study inflammation and insulin resistance associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The research involves testing the combination in PCOS-model rats and analyzing compound interactions with target proteins to explore mechanisms associated with the condition.
The Curcuwin team consists of Apriani Nurjanah, Nadhifah Eka Prastuti, and Arline Ermanissa Rezkyanti from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Naafi’ Noor Nafiza Novikh from the Faculty of Pharmacy; and Annisa Fajra Humaira from the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The research is supervised by Dr. Vista Budiariati.
PCOS is associated with hormonal imbalances, disrupted ovulatory cycles, metabolic dysfunction, and inflammation. It is also linked to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body responds less effectively to insulin, potentially disrupting blood glucose regulation. Given this complexity, the Curcuwin team is examining two aspects simultaneously: inflammation and insulin resistance.
Curcuwin team leader Apriani Nurjanah explained that the research builds on previous studies, which have largely examined curcumin and cinnamon separately.
“The novelty of our research lies in combining these two ingredients using a dual-target approach that focuses on inflammation and insulin resistance,” Apriani said on Wednesday (Oct. 21).
Curcumin is an active compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa) that has potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii), meanwhile, contains compounds such as cinnamaldehyde and polyphenols that may be associated with insulin sensitivity.
By combining the two, the team aims to investigate the effects of administering each ingredient individually and in combination on several parameters associated with PCOS.
The research was conducted over approximately four months in several UGM laboratories. The initial stage involved collecting and identifying cinnamon bark to verify the plant used. The team then extracted the material using Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction (UAE), a technique that uses ultrasonic waves to facilitate the extraction of compounds from plant materials.
Curcuwin team member Naafi’ Noor Nafiza Novikh from UGM’s Faculty of Pharmacy explained that the team conducted plant identification and extraction in separate laboratories, according to the different stages of the research.
“The cinnamon was botanically identified at the Plant Systematics Laboratory at Biology UGM. The cinnamon extraction was subsequently carried out at the Pharmacognosy-Phytochemistry Laboratory at Pharmacy UGM,” Naafi’ explained.
The next stage involved inducing PCOS in rats by administering letrozole for 21 days. The rats were then divided into five treatment groups: a healthy control group, a negative control group, a curcumin treatment group, a cinnamon extract treatment group, and a group receiving a combination of curcumin and cinnamon extract.
Team member Nadhifah Eka Prastuti explained that the grouping was designed to observe differences in the research parameters based on the treatments administered.
“Letrozole was administered for 21 days to establish the PCOS rat models. The rats were then given treatments according to their assigned groups,” Nadhifah said.
The team subsequently examined several parameters related to metabolism, reproduction, and inflammation. These included blood glucose levels, insulin expression in pancreatic tissue, changes in the estrous cycle or reproductive cycle of female rats, and ovarian tissue conditions to assess follicular development. The team also examined the expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), a marker associated with inflammation, in ovarian tissue.
addition to animal testing, the research incorporated molecular docking, a computational method used to predict interactions between compounds and target proteins. This approach was used to explore the possible involvement of the compounds in pathways associated with inflammation and insulin sensitivity.
Team member Arline Ermanissa Rezkyanti said that examining these parameters allowed the team to investigate the combination from several PCOS-relevant perspectives.
“The tests were conducted to examine parameters associated with metabolism, inflammation, and reproduction in PCOS models. Through this approach, we can assess the potential of combining curcumin and cinnamon extract more comprehensively,” she said.
The research has been completed, and the Curcuwin team is currently preparing to present its findings at the 39th National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS) at Diponegoro University.
Through this research, the team hopes that its findings on the combination of curcumin and cinnamon extract will provide a basis for further studies into the use of natural ingredients in research on metabolic and reproductive disorders. Future studies are expected to explore the combination’s dosage, duration of administration, and mechanisms of action in greater depth.
The Curcuwin team’s research also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being through the advancement of health-related knowledge, and SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through technology-based research and development. Exploring cinnamon as a research material also relates to SDG 15 on Life on Land, particularly efforts to expand knowledge of the potential of biological resources.
Author: Adinda Putri Rahma
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Magnific and PKM Team