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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

    1. 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.
    2. S.G. Cao, T.B. Lim, K.Y. Sim and S.H. Goh Nat. Prod. Lett.1996, 10.55.
    3. S.G.Cao, K.Y.Sim, J.Pereira and S.H.Goh Phytochemistry 1997, in press.
    4. S.G.Cao, K.Y.Sim, S.H. Goh, Feng Xue and T.C.W. Mak Tetrahedron Lett. 1997, in press.
    5. K.H. Lee, C.H.Chuah and S.H. Goh Tetrahedron Lett. 1996, 38(7):1253
    6. K.T. Wong, B.K.H. Tan, K.Y. Sim and S.H.Goh () Nat. Prod. Lett.1996, 9,137.

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* Invited lecture presented at the International Conference on Bioversity and Bioresources: Conservation and Utilization, 23-37 November 1997, Phuket, Thailand.

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