Apigenin Extracts from Myrmecodia pendans and Their Potential Role in Coronary Heart Disease Mitigation

¹ Center for Sustainable and Innovation Product Development, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
² SMA Negeri 1 Lumbang Pasuruan, East Jawa, Indonesia
³ SMA Negeri 3 Kota Sorong, Southwest Papua, Indonesia
⁴ SMA Swasta Advent, Sorong, Southwest Papua, Indonesia
⁵ Mechanical Engineering Department, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
⁶ Biology Department, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Myrmecodia pendans is an epiphytic plant indigenous to Papua that contains apigenin, a bioactive compound with antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, and vasodilatory properties. Apigenin has been widely associated with cardiovascular protection, particularly in the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), and represents an environmentally sustainable alternative to synthetic pharmacological therapy. This study evaluated the potential of apigenin derived from M. pendans as a natural therapy for mitigating the risk factors of CHD. A quantitative experimental design was applied using three treatment formulations, each with a fixed amount of Coffea arabica L. (12 g) brewed in 200 mL of water and different doses of M. pendans: Treatment I (6 g), Treatment II (9 g), and Treatment III (12 g). Physiological parameters, including blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, were assessed before and after administration. Treatment B produced the most significant improvements, reducing the blood pressure from 155/101 mmHg to 119/80 mmHg. Laboratory analyses further revealed an increase in HDL levels from 39 mg/dL to 45 mg/dL and a decrease in LDL levels from 140 mg/dL to 83 mg/dL. These findings suggest that apigenin extracted from M. pendans is a promising herbal therapeutic candidate for the prevention of coronary heart disease.