Mechanism of Centella asiatica extract in Increasing Alveolar Macrophages Apoptosis in Rat Tuberculosis Models

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has the capacity to manipulate host defense pathway, particularly the ability to inhibit apoptosis of infected host cells. Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant which is able to reduce growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and enhance the cellular immune response and apoptosis in cancer cells. The research is to determine effect and mechanism of the extract of Centella asiatica in enhancing macrophages apoptosis from rat tuberculosis models. Rat tuberculosis models were divided randomly into 4 groups. Group 1, 2, and 3 were given extracts of Centella asiatica at 375mg/kgbw, 750mg/kgbw, and 1500mg/kgbw daily for 14 days. The 4 group is a control group. Apoptosis, expression of Bcl 2, Bax, Caspase 8 were performed by immunohistochemistry. The study shows reduce expression of Bcl-2, increase expression of Bax and Caspase 8 also enhance the macrophages apoptosis. Ethanol extract of Centella asiatica have active ingredients to enhance of apoptosis alveolar macrophages from rat lung tissue that were infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis through the increase of Caspase 8’s expression, Bax’expression and decreasing of Bcl-2’s expression.