Β-sitosterol of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus Polyrhizus) and its response to macrophage and nitric oxide

Abstract

Hylocerius polyrhizus has relatively big potency as natural antioxidant. The compound considered as antioxidant also has immunomodulatory activity. This study showed isolation to identifying Hylocereus polyrhizus peels active compounds to increase immune system of human body. The methanol extracts were partitioned and fractionated. Petroleum ether fraction active compounds were partitioned and purified using Preparative Thin Layer Chromatography (PTLC). Active compound structures was identificated with spectroscopy: UV, FT-IR, 13CNMR, 1HNMR, DEPT and HSQC. The immunomodulatory activity was also tested. Based on the spectroscopic data, the identified isolate was β-sitosterol. Macrophage cell activity and nitric oxide showed that isolates at the highest concentrations of 100µg/mL were able to activate macrophage cells and enhance the production of nitric oxide.