Biomedical Science Doctorate Studies Red Ginger and Avocado Leaf Combination as a Natural Therapy Candidate to Suppress MRSA Pneumonia Infection and Inflammation

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• Senin, 18 Mei 2026
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Biomedical Science Doctorate Studies Red Ginger and Avocado Leaf Combination as a Natural Therapy Candidate to Suppress MRSA Pneumonia Infection and Inflammation

Held in the Meeting Room on the Third Floor of the Postgraduate Building of Udayana University, Jl. PB Sudirman, Denpasar, Bali, the Biomedical Science Doctoral Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, held an open doctoral promotion defense with candidate Ni Kadek Yunita Sari, S.Si., M.Si., with the dissertation title "The Effect of a Combination of Red Ginger Rhizome Extract and Avocado Leaf Extract on Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Levels, Bacterial Colony Counts, Accessory Gene Regulator A and Alpha Hemolysin Expression, and Tissue Damage Scores and Alveolar Septal Thickness in the Lungs of Balb/C Mice Infected with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus." (May 13, 2026)

The prevalence of MRSA pneumonia has led to high morbidity and mortality. Standard antibiotics for treating pneumonia have the disadvantage of causing the emergence of new, resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, it is necessary to find natural sources of antibiotics from natural sources that can reduce bacterial resistance mechanisms. Exploration of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties derived from extract combinations in MRSA bacteria is still very limited, especially based on in vivo pneumonia models. Finding anti-inflammatory and antibacterial strategies is urgently needed to control pneumonia caused by MRSA infection. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that administering a combination of red ginger rhizome and avocado leaf extracts can reduce TNF-α levels in bronchoalveolar fluid, bacterial colony counts, agrA and hla gene expression, and tissue damage scores and alveolar septal thickness in the lungs of BALB/c mice infected with MRSA compared to controls.

This study used a randomized posttest-only control group design. The methods used were TNF-α levels in bronchoalveolar fluid measured using ELISA, the number of lung bacterial colonies using the pour plate method in CHROMagar media, agrA and hla gene expression examined using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, and tissue damage scores and alveolar septal thickness were measured using hematoxylin and eosin staining.

The results showed that a combination of red ginger rhizome and avocado leaf extract at a concentration of 500 mg/kg body weight in a 1:1 ratio has the potential to act as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent by reducing lung tissue damage in MRSA-infected mice with pneumonia. Its mechanism of action is to suppress the quorum sensing pathway by inhibiting the expression of the agrA gene, which results in reduced expression of the hla gene, which produces the alpha-hemolysin toxin, thereby reducing TNF-α levels and the number of MRSA bacterial colonies in the lungs.

This examination was led by the Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Prof. Dr. dr. Desak Made Wihandani, M.Kes., with the following examiners:

1. Prof. Dr. dr. Komang Januartha Putra Pinatih, M.Kes (Promoter)

2. Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Jawi, M.Kes (Co-Promoter I)

3. Prof. Dr. Ni Nengah Dwi Fatmawati, Sp.MK(K)., Ph.D. (Co-Promoter II)

4. Prof. Dr. dr. I Wayan Putu Sutirta Yasa, M.Si

5. Prof. Dr. Ir. Ida Bagus Putra Manuaba, M.Phil

6. Prof. drh. I Nyoman Mantik Astawa, Ph.D.

7. Dr. dr. I Wayan Suranadi, Sp.AnTI., Subsp.TI.(K)

8. Dr. dr. Ni Made Adi Tarini, Sp.MK(K)

9. Dr. Dra. Ida Ayu Alit Widhiartini, Apt., M.Si

10. dr. Made Winarsa Ruma, S.Ked., Ph.D.

With academic invitations:

1. Dr. dr. I Gusti Ayu Widianti, M.Biomed

2. Dr. dr. I Kadek Swastika, S.Ked., M.Kes

3. Dr. I Gede Widhiantara, S.Si., M.Biomed

4. Ida Bagus Nyoman Putra Dwija, S.Si., M.Biotech., Ph.D.

5. Dr. dr. I Gusti Ngurah Bagus Artana, Sp.PD-KP

During this examination, Dr. Ni Kadek Yunita Sari, S.Si., M.Si., was declared the 493rd Doctoral Graduate of the Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, with Cum Laude honors.

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