Investigation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Sunda Porcupine’s (Hystrix javanica, F.Cuvier 1823) Quills Ethanolic Crude Extract (early view)

Abstract

The sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica, F. Cuvier 1823) is a rodent-mammal species native to Indonesia and is utilized in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Some ethnic communities in Indonesia have traditional beliefs regarding sunda porcupine’s quills, which are thought to relieve back pain and toothache. Despite this traditional knowledge, there is limited scientific research on the topic. The aim of this study was to identify active compound in an ethanolic crude extract of sunda porcupine’s quills, and to evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH-3 

free radical scavenging assay while the antimicrobial activity was evaluated through microdilution resazurin assay. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined to support the antioxidant properties. The active compounds were identified using GC-MS with the NIST-11 library. The result showed that the extract possesses antioxidant properties (IC50 138,93 ?g/mL) and antimicrobial properties against E. coli, P aeruginosa, S. aureus, B. subtilis and C. albicans (IC50 range 0.40-33.05 mg/mL). Total phenolic and total flavonoid content were 27.29 ± 2.20 mgGAE/g and 27.09 ± 1.66 mgQE/g, respectively. A total of 24 active compounds from the crude extract were identified. As much as 5 compounds serve as antioxidant agents, including: butylated hydroxytoluene; eicosane; 1-iodo-hexadecane; methyl ester hexadecanoic acid; and 2,6-dihexadecanoate-L-(+)-ascorbic acid. Furthermore, as much as 11 compounds serve as antimicrobial agents, including: tetradecane; pentadecane; 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1-heptanol; hexadecane; butylated hydroxytoluene; eicosane; 1-iodo-hexadecane; methyl ester hexadecanoic acid; 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester benzenepropanoic acid; 2,6-dihexadecanoate-L-(+)-ascorbic acid; and octadecanoic acid. This study provides scientific validation for the use of the sunda porcupine’s quills in traditional medicine and highlights the potential for further research in animal bioprospecting.