Immunomodulatory effect of instant tea powder from black cincau (Mesona palustris BL) in the treatment of Salmonella typhimurium-induced infection in BALB mice.

Black cincau or b lack g rass jelly (Mesona palustris BL) is a traditional beverage, believed to have a medicinal function in Indonesia. Black cincau is used to reduce hypertension, diabetes and liver d isease. In China and Taiwan it is called Hsian-tsao (Mesona procumbens Hemsl). Prev ious research reports that Hsia-tsao extract contains bioactive compounds that have antioxidant, antibacterial, antimutagenic, hepatoprotecive, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, immuno modulatory and cancer preventive properties. The purpose of the present research was to examine the immuno modulatory property of a black cincau-based functional instant tea powder, using BALB mice infected by Salmonella thypimurium. The functional beverage with added cinnamon and pandan leaves had an IC 50 of 141,25 ppm and total phenolic content of 4,49%. This functional beverage has the ability to increase interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and immunoglobulin G (Ig G) in mice infected with the bacteria Salmonella thypimurium at dose of 18,2 mg/20 g body weight and 36,4 mg/20 g body weight respectively.