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Pure Appl. Chem., Vol. 70, No. 11,
pp. 2133, 1998
Bioactive principles from folkloric anti-neoplastic
plants and from bioprospecting the Malaysian forest*
Swee Hock Goh
Chemistry Department, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent
Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260
Abstract: Compared to the rapid economic development in S.E.
Asia, scientific studies on the region's flora have largely been neglected
in relative terms. Plants, especially those of use in folklore medicine,
need to be continually studied for their efficacy or otherwise. Likewise
the tropical forest in this region remains a genetic treasure~house
for bioprospecting for natura1 products with bioactivity.1
Even though there are international agreements and protocols, biodiversity
has in recent times been the object of exploitation and it is increasingly
evident that nations have to be self reliant in their efforts for
conservation and the development or promotion of beneficial uses.
Screening of Malaysian forest plants has been ongoing for a long time1
but detailed phytochemical and pharmacological studies have remained
painfully slow. However, better instrumentation has allowed a rich
harvest of new natural products and bioactive substances. Continuing
studies have focused on novel natural products and bioactive compounds
especially with cytotoxic and insecticidal activities, e.g. new prenylated
xanthones, biflavonoids and coumarins have been characterized from
plants of the family Guttiferae.2-4 Several coumarins of
potential against HIV protease activity were isolated from Calophyllum
teysmanii. A novel seco-trisnor-oleanane has been obtained
from Calophyllum gracilipes.4 From Polyalthia
insignis 5 a biogenetically interesting secobenzyltetrydroisoquinoline
was found. Plants from the family Annonaceae provide many cytotoxic
and insecticidal compounds such as styrylpyrone derivatives, acetogenins
and aporphine derivatives. Severa1 local plants have been vaguely
referred to for treatment of neoplastic conditions, in particular
plants from the family Araceae have been frequently used in folk medicinal
treatment. For example, bioassay-guided fractionation allowed the
isolation of a strongly cytotoxic dihydroxyindole from Rhaphidophora
korthalsii.6
- S.H. Goh, K.H. Lee, H.C. Ong, G.C.L. Ee, S.L. Geh, L. Madani and
J.T. Pereira J.Herbs, Spices & Med. Plants 1997, in press.
- S.G. Cao, T.B. Lim, K.Y. Sim and S.H. Goh Nat. Prod. Lett.1996,
10.55.
- S.G.Cao, K.Y.Sim, J.Pereira and S.H.Goh Phytochemistry 1997,
in press.
- S.G.Cao, K.Y.Sim, S.H. Goh, Feng Xue and T.C.W. Mak Tetrahedron
Lett. 1997, in press.
- K.H. Lee, C.H.Chuah and S.H. Goh Tetrahedron Lett. 1996,
38(7):1253
- K.T. Wong, B.K.H. Tan, K.Y. Sim and S.H.Goh () Nat. Prod. Lett.1996,
9,137.
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PDF file (72KB)
* Invited lecture presented at the International
Conference on Bioversity and Bioresources: Conservation and Utilization,
23-37 November 1997, Phuket, Thailand.
Page last modified 15 April 1999.
Copyright ©1997, 98, 99 International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry.
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