IOSR Journal Of Pharmacy (e)-ISSN: 2250-3013, (p)-ISSN: 2319-4219 Volume 11, Issue 2 Series. I (February 2021), PP. 29-34 www.iosrphr.org 29 The Potential of Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. ) as a Rejuvenating Agent Elfin 1 , Edy Fachrial 2 , I Nyoman Ehrich Lister 2* , Chrismis Novalinda Ginting 1 Master Program of Biomedical Sciences 2 Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. *Corresponding Author: I Nyoman Ehrich Lister Received 29 January 2021; Accepted 13 February 2021 Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the rejuvenating activity of Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.) extract cream 10% in the UVB-exposed rats’ skin. The efficacy of the Temulawak extract cream was compared with Vitamin C cream 10% as a positive control. The subjects were 30 female Wistar rats, aged 6-8 weeks, and weighing 180-200 grams. The samples were divided randomly and equally into three groups, namely group 1 (control, exposed to UVB only), group 2 (exposed to UVB + treated with Temulawak extract cream 10%) and group 3 (exposed to UVB + treated with Vitamin C cream 10%). Qualitative phytochemical screening of the Temulawak extract revealed the content of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids/steroids, but not tannins. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was found to be 37.32 mg/mL. Before and after treatment for 4 weeks, the skin elasticity, water content and pore size were examined with Skin Analyzer EH 900 U. The results showed that both Temulawak extract and Vitamin C cream improved the skin hydration significantly (from 3 to 15% and 4 to 30%, respectively). Temulawak extract and Vitamin C cream also ameliorated the reduction in skin elasticity (from 50 to 40% and 50 to 50%, respectively) and reduced the diameter of the skin pore (from 0.05 to 0.03 mm and 0.06 to 0.01 mm, respectively). Consistently, the effect of Temulawak extract cream was less than Vitamin C. In general, we reported that both Temulawak extract and Vitamin C cream can be used as a rejuvenating agent with the efficacy of Temulawak extract cream < Vitamin C cream. Further study is required to determine the potential side effect of both creams. Moreover, clinical study is warranted to prove their efficacy as a rejuvenating agent in humans. Keywords: Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.), Rejuvenating Agent, Phytochemical, UVB, Skin Aging, Rats, Anti-Aging Medicine I. INTRODUCTION The aging of an organism begins from the time when one is born. Advancing age is followed by deterioration of the function and the structure of the cells, tissues and organs including the skin. As the most voluminous organ of the body, the skin shows an obvious and visible sign of aging. Skin aging is characterized by features such as wrinkling, loss of elasticity, laxity, and rough-textured appearance. Therefore, for many people, especially females, a considerable amount of daily expense is occupied by cosmetics and pharmaceuticals attempting to prevent or reverse skin aging. Anti-aging medicine is the branch of medicine that aims to reduce the chance of developing aging-related deterioration in skin function and structure [1-4] . Efforts that can be done to improve health and slow down the aging process include improving diet, exercising more and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Recently, antioxidants have become the center of anti-aging research. The free radical theory of aging hypothesizes that free radicals are responsible for the age-related damage at the cellular and tissue levels. In a physiological condition, a balanced equilibrium exists among oxidants, antioxidants and biomolecules. Excess generation of free radicals overwhelms natural cellular antioxidant defenses leading to oxidation and cellular functional impairment. The identification of free radical reactions as promoters of the aging process implies that interventions aimed at limiting or inhibiting them should be able to reduce the rate of aging [5] . Antioxidants are exogenous or endogenous molecules that mitigate any form of oxidative stress or its consequences. They may act from directly scavenging free radicals to increasing antioxidative defenses [6] . Antioxidants are present in natural foods but added amounts beyond the diet may detoxify excess free radicals during oxidative stress. One source of natural antioxidants is the Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. ) [7] . Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb., commonly known as Java turmeric or Temulawak, has been used as a traditional medicinal plant in some tropical countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia for food and medicinal purposes to treat hepatitis, liver disorders, stomach diseases, rheumatism, and skin inflammation [8] . C. xanthorrhiza contains bioactive compounds, such as curcuminoids, camphor, geranyl acetate, zerumbone, β-