Penurunan Interleukin-17 (IL-17) oleh Ekstrak Bunga Pepaya Jantan (Carica papaya L.) pada Artritis Autoimun Eksperimental: Potensi Imunomodulator yang Menargetkan Peradangan yang Dimediasi oleh Sel Th17

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent joint inflammation resulting from dysregulation of T helper 17 (Th17) cell responses and increased production of interleukin-17 (IL-17). This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of the ethanolic extract of male papaya (Carica papaya L.) flowers on IL-17 levels in an experimental autoimmune arthritis model. A randomized controlled post-test-only design was employed using 30 male Wistar rats induced with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). The animals were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 6 per group): normal control, arthritis control, male papaya flower extract at 100 mg/kg body weight (BW), male papaya flower extract at 200 mg/kg BW, and a methotrexate-treated group. Treatments were administered orally once daily for 21 consecutive days. Serum IL-17 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while histopathological changes in the joint tissues were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The results demonstrated a significant increase in serum IL-17 levels in the arthritis control group compared with the normal control group (p < 0.001). Administration of the male papaya flower extract significantly reduced IL-17 levels in a dose-dependent manner, with the higher dose producing effects comparable to those of methotrexate. Histopathological analysis also revealed reduced synovial inflammation and cartilage damage in the treatment groups. These findings suggest that the ethanolic extract of male papaya flowers possesses immunomodulatory potential by suppressing the IL-17-mediated inflammatory pathway in experimental autoimmune arthritis.