Ethnopharmacological Study of Keumiki Leaf (Glochidion spp) as a Candidate Therapy for Degenerative Diseases

Abstract

Degenerative diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders, pose significant global health challenges. Traditional medicine systems offer valuable leads for novel therapeutic development. This ethnopharmacological study investigated Keumiki leaf (Glochidion spp), a traditional medicinal plant from Aceh Province, Indonesia, as a therapeutic candidate for degenerative diseases. Comprehensive ethnobotanical surveys revealed high recognition (89.3%) of Keumiki for treating cognitive impairment, inflammatory conditions, and age-related disorders. Phytochemical analysis demonstrated rich composition with total phenolic content of 347.0 ± 4.12 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content of 163.2 ± 2.78 mg QE/g in ethanol extract. Antioxidant assays revealed potent activity with DPPH IC₅₀ of 23.45 μg/mL, comparable to standard antioxidants. Molecular mechanism studies using Western blot and RT-PCR demonstrated significant activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway (2.3-fold and 1.8-fold increases, respectively) and suppression of pro-inflammatory pathways, including downregulation of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Strong correlations between phytochemical content and biological activities (r > 0.87) suggest phenolic and flavonoid compounds as primary contributors to therapeutic effects. This integrated ethnopharmacological approach validates traditional knowledge and provides scientific evidence supporting Glochidion spp as a promising therapeutic candidate for degenerative diseases through dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.