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This paper reports a study on genetic identification of Parthenium hysterophorus and the ability of P. hysterophorus crude extract (PHCE) to inhibit germination of weeds in palm oil plantations, particularly slender buttonweed (Diodia ocimifolia). Parthenium hysterophorus is a noxious plant with invasive properties. It has become one of the world’s seven most devastating and hazardous weed s due to its allelopathic properties. However, a compre hensive study on its genetic identification and its herbicidal activity against weeds in palm oil plantations had never been carried out. In the present study, internal transcribes spacer (ITS) region-based analysis was used as a molecular marker to ascertain the local Rumput Miang Mexico (RMM) as a P. hysterophorus species. From the results, the DNA sequence obtained was 99% matched with P. hysterophorus species database. In the dose-response bioassay study, the phytotoxicity of PHCE on D. ocimifolia was simulated under laboratory conditions. Methanolic extract of P. hysterophorus significantly inhibited germination and growth of shoots and radicles of D. ocimifolia at low concentrations (1−5 g ∙ l−1). A study on the herbicidal activity of PHCE could be an additional management approach for this phy totoxic species and an alternative way to naturally control weeds on palm oil plantations.

This paper reports a study on genetic identification of Parthenium hysterophorus and the ability of P. hysterophorus crude extract (PHCE) to inhibit germination of weeds in palm oil plantations, particularly slender buttonweed (Diodia ocimifolia). Parthenium hysterophorus is a noxious plant with invasive properties. It has become one of the world’s seven most devastating and hazardous weed s due to its allelopathic properties. However, a compre hensive study on its genetic identification and its herbicidal activity against weeds in palm oil plantations had never been carried out. In the present study, internal transcribes spacer (ITS) region-based analysis was used as a molecular marker to ascertain the local Rumput Miang Mexico (RMM) as a P. hysterophorus species. From the results, the DNA sequence obtained was 99% matched with P. hysterophorus species database. In the dose-response bioassay study, the phytotoxicity of PHCE on D. ocimifolia was simulated under laboratory conditions. Methanolic extract of P. hysterophorus significantly inhibited germination and growth of shoots and radicles of D. ocimifolia at low concentrations (1−5 g ∙ l−1). A study on the herbicidal activity of PHCE could be an additional management approach for this phy totoxic species and an alternative way to naturally control weeds on palm oil plantations.

Natural products, either pure compounds or standardized plant extracts, have provided opportunities for the discovery of new drugs. Nowadays, most of the world’s population still relies on traditional medicines for healthcare purposes. Plants, particular, are always used as traditional medicine, as they contain a diverse number of phytochemicals that can be used for the treatment of diseases. The multicomponent feature in the plants is considered a positive phytotherapeutic hallmark. Hence, ethnopharmacognosy has been the focus for finding alternative treatments for diseases. Melicope lunu-ankenda, also known as Euodia lunu-ankenda, is widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia. Different parts of M. lunu-ankenda have been used for treatment of hypertension, menstrual disorder, diabetes, and fever, and as an emmenagogue and tonic. It has also been consumed as salad and as a condiment for food flavorings. The justification of use of M. lunu-ankenda in folk medicines is supported by its reported biological activities, including its cytotoxic, antibacterial, antioxidant, analgesic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review summarizes the phytochemical compounds isolated from various parts of M. lunu-ankenda, such as root and leaves, and also its biological activities, which could make the species a new therapeutic agent for some diseases, including diabetes, in the future.

Natural products, either pure compounds or standardized plant extracts, have provided opportunities for the discovery of new drugs. Nowadays, most of the world’s population still relies on traditional medicines for healthcare purposes. Plants, particular, are always used as traditional medicine, as they contain a diverse number of phytochemicals that can be used for the treatment of diseases. The multicomponent feature in the plants is considered a positive phytotherapeutic hallmark. Hence, ethnopharmacognosy has been the focus for finding alternative treatments for diseases. Melicope lunu-ankenda, also known as Euodia lunu-ankenda, is widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia. Different parts of M. lunu-ankenda have been used for treatment of hypertension, menstrual disorder, diabetes, and fever, and as an emmenagogue and tonic. It has also been consumed as salad and as a condiment for food flavorings. The justification of use of M. lunu-ankenda in folk medicines is supported by its reported biological activities, including its cytotoxic, antibacterial, antioxidant, analgesic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review summarizes the phytochemical compounds isolated from various parts of M. lunu-ankenda, such as root and leaves, and also its biological activities, which could make the species a new therapeutic agent for some diseases, including diabetes, in the future.

A new pyranoxanthone, buxixanthone (1), was isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum buxifolium along with three other chemical constituents, ananixanthone (2), pyranojacareubin (3), and macluraxanthone (4). The structures of these compounds were confirmed through spectroscopic analysis, which included 1D and 2D NMR, GC/MS, and IR experiments.

A new pyranoxanthone, buxixanthone (1), was isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum buxifolium along with three other chemical constituents, ananixanthone (2), pyranojacareubin (3), and macluraxanthone (4). The structures of these compounds were confirmed through spectroscopic analysis, which included 1D and 2D NMR, GC/MS, and IR experiments.

Extensive chromatographic isolation and purification of the extracts of the stem bark of Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum soulattri have resulted in 11 xanthones. C. inophyllum gave inophinnin (1), inophinone (2), pyranojacareubin (5), rheediaxanthone A (6), macluraxanthone (7) and 4-hydroxyxanthone (8), while C. soulattri afforded soulattrin (3), phylattrin (4), caloxanthone C (9), brasixanthone B (10) and trapezifolixanthone (11). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses such as 1D and 2D NMR, GC-MS, IR and UV. Cytotoxicity screening (MTT assay) carried out in vitro on all the xanthones using five human cancer cell lines indicated good activities for some of these xanthones. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that the inhibitory activities exhibited by these xanthone derivatives to be closely related to the existence and nature of the pyrano and the prenyl substituent groups on their skeleton.

Extensive chromatographic isolation and purification of the extracts of the stem bark of Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum soulattri have resulted in 11 xanthones. C. inophyllum gave inophinnin (1), inophinone (2), pyranojacareubin (5), rheediaxanthone A (6), macluraxanthone (7) and 4-hydroxyxanthone (8), while C. soulattri afforded soulattrin (3), phylattrin (4), caloxanthone C (9), brasixanthone B (10) and trapezifolixanthone (11). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses such as 1D and 2D NMR, GC-MS, IR and UV. Cytotoxicity screening (MTT assay) carried out in vitro on all the xanthones using five human cancer cell lines indicated good activities for some of these xanthones. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that the inhibitory activities exhibited by these xanthone derivatives to be closely related to the existence and nature of the pyrano and the prenyl substituent groups on their skeleton.

Clinacanthus nutans Lindau leaves (CN) have been used in traditionalmedicine but the therapeutic potential has not been explored for cancer prevention and treatment. Current study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of CN, extracted in chloroform, methanol, and water, on cancer cell lines. Antioxidant properties of CN were evaluated using DPPH, galvinoxyl, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide based radical scavenging assays, whereas the tumoricidal effect was tested on HepG2, IMR32, NCL-H23, SNU-1, Hela, LS-174T, K562, Raji, and IMR32 cancer cells using MTT assay. Our data showed that CN in chloroform extract was a good antioxidant against DPPH and galvinoxyl radicals, but less effective in negating nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide radicals. Chloroformextract exerted the highest antiproliferative effect on K-562 (91.28±0.03%) andRaji cell lines (88.97± 1.07%) at 100

Bixa orellana L. has been traditionally used in Central and South America to treat a number of ailments, including internal inflammation, and in other tropical countries like Malaysia as treatment for gastric ulcers and stomach discomfort. The current study aimed to determine the major chemical constituents of the aqueous extract of B. orellana (AEBO) and to evaluate the antihistamine activity of AEBO during acute inflammation induced in rats.

Bixa orellana L. has been traditionally used in Central and South America to treat a number of ailments, including internal inflammation, and in other tropical countries like Malaysia as treatment for gastric ulcers and stomach discomfort. The current study aimed to determine the major chemical constituents of the aqueous extract of B. orellana (AEBO) and to evaluate the antihistamine activity of AEBO during acute inflammation induced in rats.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to screen cytotoxic activities of commonly used culinary plants in Malaysia, Pandanus amaryllifolius (daun pandan), Curcuma longa (turmeric leaves) and Etlingera elatior (kantan flower) against selected cancer cell lines. Design/methodology/approach – Plant samples were extracted exhaustively with ethanol and concentrated under rotary evaporator. Cytotoxic evaluation was carried out with plant extracts(0-100mg/ml) using 72-h MTT assay. Findings – Exposure of plant extracts reduced cell viability of HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma),HT-29 (colon carcinoma), MDA-MB-231 (non-hormone-dependent breast cancer), MCF-7(hormone-dependent breast cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer); 50 percent inhibitory values (IC50) were obtained for MDA-MB-231, HepG2, HT-29. Extracts within the concentrations of 10-100mg/ml were found not to be effective against proliferation of MCF-7 and HeLa.

The title compound, Artonol B, C24H20O7, isolated from the stem bark of Artocarpus kemando, consists of four six-membered rings and one five-membered ring. The tricyclic xanthone ring system is almost planar [maximum deviation 0.115 (5) Å], whereas the pyran­oid ring is in a distorted boat conformation·The furan ring is almost coplanar with the fused aromatic ring, making a dihedral angle of 3.76 (9)°. The phenol ring serves as a intra­molecular hydrogen-bond donor to the adjacent carbonyl group and also acts as an inter­molecular hydrogen-bond acceptor for the methyl groups of adjacent mol­ecules, forming a three-dimensional network in the crystal.

The title compound, Artonol B, C24H20O7, isolated from the stem bark of Artocarpus kemando, consists of four six-membered rings and one five-membered ring. The tricyclic xanthone ring system is almost planar [maximum deviation 0.115 (5) Å], whereas the pyran­oid ring is in a distorted boat conformation·The furan ring is almost coplanar with the fused aromatic ring, making a dihedral angle of 3.76 (9)°. The phenol ring serves as a intra­molecular hydrogen-bond donor to the adjacent carbonyl group and also acts as an inter­molecular hydrogen-bond acceptor for the methyl groups of adjacent mol­ecules, forming a three-dimensional network in the crystal.

Phytochemical study on the rhizomes of Kaempferia rotunda originated from Yogyakarta, Indonesia has led to the isolation of crotepoxide, benzoic acid, tetracosanoic acid, b-sitosterol and stigmasterol. Tetracosanoic acid and benzoic acid have never been reported for this species previously. Bioactivity studies on the extracts and isolated compound (crotepoxide) were carried out. Extracts and crotepoxide from K. rotunda were not active against HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemic) cell line in cytotoxic testing. However, the non-polar extract demonstrated moderate inhibition in antimicrobial assay whereas in FTC antioxidant testing, all extracts exhibited strong activity as compared to vitamin E.

Phytochemical study on the rhizomes of Kaempferia rotunda originated from Yogyakarta, Indonesia has led to the isolation of crotepoxide, benzoic acid, tetracosanoic acid, b-sitosterol and stigmasterol. Tetracosanoic acid and benzoic acid have never been reported for this species previously. Bioactivity studies on the extracts and isolated compound (crotepoxide) were carried out. Extracts and crotepoxide from K. rotunda were not active against HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemic) cell line in cytotoxic testing. However, the non-polar extract demonstrated moderate inhibition in antimicrobial assay whereas in FTC antioxidant testing, all extracts exhibited strong activity as compared to vitamin E.

In a continuation of our study of the Rutaceae, detailed chemical investigation on Micromelum minutum (Rutaceae) collected from Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia gave four new coumarins. The structures of the coumarins have been fully characterised by spectroscopic methods as 3",4"-dihydrocapnolactone 1, 2',3'-epoxyisocapnolactone 2, 8-hydroxyisocapnolactone-2',3'-diol 3 and 8-hydroxy-3",4"-dihydrocapnolactone-2',3'-diol 4.

In a continuation of our study of the Rutaceae, detailed chemical investigation on Micromelum minutum (Rutaceae) collected from Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia gave four new coumarins. The structures of the coumarins have been fully characterised by spectroscopic methods as 3",4"-dihydrocapnolactone 1, 2',3'-epoxyisocapnolactone 2, 8-hydroxyisocapnolactone-2',3'-diol 3 and 8-hydroxy-3",4"-dihydrocapnolactone-2',3'-diol 4.