Phytochemical Properties and Traditional Uses of Selected Medicinal Plants in Malaysia: A Review

A'attiyyah AB Alim, Wan Afiqah Syahirah Wan Ghazali, Nor Azah Mohd Ali, Kannan Thirumulu Ponnuraj, Suharni Mohamad, Ahmad Azlina

Abstract


Medicinal plants have healing properties and are able to synthesize various chemical compounds. These chemicals (also known as phytochemical compounds) play vital roles in determining the pharmacological properties existing in certain plants. The phytochemical compounds present in plants are associated with primary and secondary constituents. Most of the time, the secondary constituents exhibit the bioactivities in plants such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Some common medicinal plants that have been used in curing various diseases by traditional practitioners in Malaysia are Ficus deltoidea Jack, Andrographis paniculata, Curcuma longa, Clinacanthus nutans and Eurycoma longifolia Jack. This review discusses the morphology, phytochemical compounds and phytochemical properties of selected medicinal plants in Malaysia. The plants of focus have been found to possess anti-cancer and anti-diabetic effects. This review, it is hoped will enable Malaysian researchers to explore further on the potential of these plants in investigating new and novel drugs in the future.

Keywords


Malaysia, plants, phytochemical compounds, properties

Full Text:

PDF

References


Parivuguna V. Antimicrobial properties and phytochemical constituents of Rhoeo discolor Hance. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 2008; 12: pp 841-845.

Njoku OV, Obi C. Phytochemical constituents of some selected medicinal plants. African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry 2009; 3(11): pp 228-233.

Wadood A, Ghufran M, Jamal S, Naeem M, Khan A, Ghaffar R. Phytochemical analysis of medicinal plants occurring in local area of Mardan. Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry 2013; 2(144): pp 2-4.

J. Harborne, “Phytochemical Methods,” in A guide to modern techniques of plant analysis, 3th ed. London, UK: Chapman & Hall, 1973, pp 52-114.

Aberoumand A. Screening of phytochemical compounds and toxic proteinaceous protease inhibitor in some lesser-known food based plants and their effects and potential applications in food. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Engineering 2012; 2(3): pp 16-20.

Kennedy DO, Wightman EL. Herbal extracts and phytochemicals: plant secondary metabolites and the enhancement of human brain function. Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal 2011; 2(1): pp 32-50.

Pandey KB, Rizvi SI. Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2009; 2(5): pp 270-278.

Hussain MS, Fareed S, Saba Ansari M, Rahman A, Ahmad IZ, Saeed M. Current approaches toward production of secondary plant metabolites. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences 2012; 4(1): pp 10-20.

Savithramma N, Rao ML, Suhrulatha D. Screening of medicinal plants for secondary metabolites. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 2011; 8(3): pp 579-584.

Fatihah HNN, Mat N, Zaimah AR, Zuhailah MN, Norhaslinda H, Khairil M, et al. Morphological phylogenetic analysis of seven varieties of Ficus deltoidea Jack from the Malay Peninsula of Malaysia. PLoS ONE 2012; 8(8): pp 10.

Bunawan H, Amin N, Bunawan S, Baharum S, Noor N. Ficus deltoidea Jack: A review on its phytochemical and pharmacological importance. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014; vol. 2014: pp 1-8.

Fatihah HNN, Nashriyah M, Zaimah ARN, Khairil M, Ali AM. Leaf morphology and anatomy of 7 varieties of Ficus deltoidea (Moraceae). Turkish Journal of Botany 2014; 38(4): pp 677-685.

Shafaei A, Muslim NS, Nassar ZD, Aisha AF, Majid AMSA, Ismail Z. Antiangiogenic effect of Ficus deltoidea Jack standardised leaf extracts. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2014; 13(5): pp 761-768.

Roy S, Rao K, Bhuvaneswari C, Giri A, Mangamoori LN. Phytochemical analysis of Andrographis paniculata extract and its antimicrobial activity. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 2010; 26(1): pp 85.

Sheeja K, Kuttan G. Activation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and attenuation of tumor growth in vivo by Andrographis paniculata extract and andrographolide. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology 2007; 29(1): pp 81-93.

Calabrese C, Berman SH, Babish JG, Ma X, Shinto L, Dorr M, et al. A phase I trial of andrographolide in HIV positive patients and normal volunteers. Phytotherapy Research 2000; 14(5): pp 333-338.

Yoopan N, Thisoda P, Rangkadilok N, Sahasitiwat S, Pholphana N, Ruchirawat S, et al. Cardiovascular effects of 14-deoxy-11, 12-didehydroandrographolide and Andrographis paniculata extracts. Planta Medica 2007; 73(06): pp 503-511.

Lau K, Lee S, Chin J. Effect of the methanol leaves extract of Clinacanthus nutans on the activity of acetylcholinesterase in male mice. Journal of Acute Disease 2014; 3(1): pp 22-25.

Ghasemzadeh A, Nasiri A, Jaafar HZ, Baghdadi A, Ahmad I. Changes in phytochemical synthesis, chalcone synthase activity and pharmaceutical qualities of Sabah snake grass (Clinacanthus nutans L.) in relation to plant age. Molecules 2014; 19(11): pp 17632-17648.

Aslam MS, Ahmad MS, Mamat AS. A Review on Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Clinacanthus nutans. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2014; 7(2): pp 30-33.

Arullappan S, Rajamanickam P, Thevar N, Kodimani CC. In vitro screening of cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Clinacanthus nutans (Acanthaceae) leaf extracts. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2014; 13(9): pp 1455-1461.

Jamal JA, Ghafar ZA, Husain K. Medicinal plants used for postnatal care in Malay traditional medicine in the Peninsular Malaysia. Pharmacognosy Journal 2011; 3(24): pp 15-24.

Hema R, Kumaravel S, Devi Martina T. Chromatograph interfaced to a mass spectrometer analysis of Cinnamomum verum. Nature and Science 2010; 8(11): pp 152-155.

Husain SS, Ali M. Analysis of volatile oil of the stem bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and its antimicrobial activity. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy & Science 2013; 3(4): pp 40-49.

Lip JM, Hisham DN, Zaidi JA, Musa Y, Ahmad A, Normah A, et al. Isolation and identification of moretenol from Ficus deltoidea leaves. Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Science 2009; 37(2): pp 195-201.

Suryati S, Nurdin H, Dachriyanus D, Lajis MNH. Structure elucidation of antibacterial compound from Ficus deltoidea Jack leaves. Indonesian Journal of Chemistry 2011; 11(1): pp 67-70.

Ong S, Ling A, Poospooragi R, Moosa S. Production of flavonoid compounds in cell cultures of Ficus deltoidea as influenced by medium composition. International Journal of Medicinal Aromatic Plants 2011; 1(2): pp 62-74.

Yadav J, Singh T. Phytochemical analysis and antifungal activity of Andrographis paniculata. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Bio Science 2012; 1(4): pp 240-263.

Kumar RA, Sridevi K, Kumar NV, Nanduri S, Rajagopal S. Anticancer and immunostimulatory compounds from Andrographis paniculata. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2004; 92(2): pp 291-295.

Xu T, Pan J, Zhao L. Simultaneous determination of four andrographolides in Andrographis paniculata Nees by silver ion reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Journal of Chromatographic Science 2008; 46(8): pp 747-750.

Jayakumar T, Hsieh CY, Lee JJ, Sheu JR. Experimental and clinical pharmacology of Andrographis paniculata and its major bioactive phytoconstituent andrographolide. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013; vol. 2013: pp 16.

Chao W-W, Lin B-F. Review isolation and identification of bioactive compounds in Andrographis paniculata (Chuanxinlian). Chinese Medicine 2010; 10: pp 44.

Akbar S. Andrographis paniculata: A review of pharmacological activities and clinical effects. Alternative Medicine Review 2011; 16(1): pp 66-77.

Teshima K, Kaneko T, Ohtani K, Kasai R, Lhieochaiphant S, Picheansoonthon C, et al. C-Glycosyl Flavones from Clinacanthus nutans (Natural Medicine Note). Natural Medicines 1997; 51(6): pp 557.

Yong YK, Tan JJ, Teh SS, Mah SH, Ee GCL, Chiong HS, et al. Clinacanthus nutans extracts are antioxidant with antiproliferative effect on cultured human cancer cell lines. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013; vol. 2013: pp 8.

Dampawan P, Huntrakul C, Reutrakul V, Raston CL, White AH. Constituents of Clinacanthus nutans and the crystal structure of lup-20(29)-ene-3-one. Journal of the Science Society of Thailand 1977; 1(2): pp 53-62.

Lin J, Li H, Yu J. Studies on the chemical constituents of niu xu hua (Clinacanthus nutans). Zhongcaoyao 1983; 14: pp 337-338.

Senanayake UM, Lee TH, Wills RB. Volatile constituents of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) oils. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 1978; 26(4): pp 822-824.

Variyar P, Bandyopadhyay C. On Some Chemical Aspects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Pafai Journal 1989; 10(4): pp 35-38.

Rao Y, Paul S, Dutta P. Major constituents of essential oils of Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Indian Perfumer 1988; 32(1): pp 86-89.

Ranasinghe P, Pigera S, Premakumara GS, Galappaththy P, Constantine GR, Katulanda P. Medicinal properties of ‘true’ cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013; 13(1): pp 275.

Uma B, Prabhakar K, Rajendran S, Lakshmi Sarayu Y. Studies on GC/MS spectroscopic analysis of some bioactive antimicrobial compounds from Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Journal of Medicinal Plants 2009; 3(31): pp 125-131.

Nir Y, Potasman I, Stermer E, Tabak M, Neeman I. Controlled trial of the effect of cinnamon extract on Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter 2000; 5(2): pp 94-97.

Singh G, Kapoor I, Singh P, De Heluani CS, De Lampasona MP, Catalan CA. comparative study of chemical composition and antioxidant activity of fresh and dry rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.). Food and Chemical Toxicology 2010; 48(4): pp 1026-1031.

Li S, Yuan W, Deng G, Wang P, Yang P, Aggarwal B. Chemical composition and product quality control of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Pharmaceutical Crops 2011; 2: pp 28-54.

Liao JC, Tsai JC, Liu CY, Huang HC, Wu LY, Peng WH. Antidepressant-like activity of turmerone in behavioral despair tests in mice. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013; 13(1): pp 299.

Nisar T, Iqbal M, Raza A, Safdar M, Iftikhar F, Waheed M. Turmeric: A promising spice for phytochemical and antimicrobial activities. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences 2015; 15(7): pp 1278-1288.

Akhir NAM, Chua LS, Majid FAA, Sarmidi MR. Cytotoxicity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ficus deltoidea on human ovarian carcinoma cell line. British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research 2011; 1(4): pp 397.

Farsi E, Shafaei A, Hor SY, Ahamed MBK, Yam MF, Attitalla IH, et al. Correlation between enzymes inhibitory effects and antioxidant activities of standardized fractions of methanolic extract obtained from Ficus deltoidea leaves. African Journal of Biotechnology 2011; 10(67): pp 15184-15194.

Adam Z, Hamid M, Ismail A, Khamis S. Effect of Ficus deltoidea extracts on hepatic basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Journal of Biological Sciences 2009; 9(8): pp 796-803.

Misbah H, Aziz AA, Aminudin N. Antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of Ficus deltoidea fruit extracts and fractions. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013; 13(1): pp 118.

Abdullah Z, Hussain K, Ismail Z, Ali RM. Anti-inflammatory activity of standardised extracts of leaves of three varieties of Ficus deltoidea. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2009; 1(3): pp 100-105.

Sulaiman MR, Hussain M, Zakaria ZA, Somchit M, Moin S, Mohamad A, et al. Evaluation of the antinociceptive activity of Ficus deltoidea aqueous extract. Fitoterapia 2008; 79(7): pp 557-561.

Zakaria Z, Hussain M, Mohamad A, Abdullah F, Sulaiman M. Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Ficus deltoidea. Biological Research for Nursing 2011; 14(1): pp 90-97.

Al-Henhena N, Ying RPY, Ismail S, Najm W, Khalifa SA, El-Seedi H, et al. Chemopreventive efficacy of Andrographis paniculata on azoxymethane-induced aberrant colon crypt foci in vivo. PloS one 2014; 9(11): pp 1-12.

Wasman S, Mahmood A, Chua LS, Alshawsh MA, Hamdan S. Antioxidant and gastroprotective activities of Andrographis paniculata (Hempedu Bumi) in Sprague Dawley rats. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 2011; vol.49: pp 767-772.

Agarwal R, Sulaiman SA, Mohamed M. Open label clinical trial to study adverse effects and tolerance to dry powder of the aerial part of Andrographis paniculata in patients type 2 with Diabetes mellitus. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2005; 12(1): pp 13-19.

Subramanian R, Asmawi M, Sadikun A. Effect of andrographolide and ethanol extract of Andrographis paniculata on liver glycolytic, gluconeogenic, and lipogenic enzymes in a type 2 diabetic rat model. Pharmaceutical Biology 2008; 46(10-11): pp 772-780.

Malahubban M, Alimon AR, Sazili AQ, Fakurazi S, Zakry FA. Phytochemical analysis of Andrographolis paniculata and Orthosipon stamineus leaf extracts for their antibacterial and antioxidant potential. Tropical Biomedicine 2013; 30(3): pp 467-480.

Ahmad N, Ismail S, Hussin AH, Syahrani A, Palupi T, Triyanti UF, et al. Effects of Andrographis paniculata extract on uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase activity. Malaysian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2005; 3(1): pp 25-33.

Ismail S, Aziah Hanapi N, Ab Halim MR, Uchaipichat V, Mackenzie PI. Effects of Andrographis paniculata and Orthosiphon stamineus extracts on the glucuronidation of 4-methylumbelliferone in human UGT isoforms. Molecules 2010; 15(5): pp 3578-3592.

Verma VK, Sarwa KK, Kumar A, Zaman MK. Comparison of hepatoprotective activity of Swertia chirayita and Andrographis paniculata plant of North–East India against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxic rats. Journal of Pharmacy Research 2013; 7(7): pp 647-653.

Hossain MS, Urbi Z, Sule A, Rahman K. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees: A review of ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. The Scientific World Journal 2014; vol.2014: pp 28.

Choudhury B, Poddar M. Andrographolide and kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) extract: in vivo and in vitro effect on hepatic lipid peroxidation. Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology 1984; 6(9): pp 481-485.

Saad R, Pohyeen T, Khan J, Wenji L, Sultan S, Abdul Hameed J, et al. Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of different parts from five Malaysian herbs. International Journal of Science and Technology 2014; 19(2): pp 1336-1347.

Abdul Ghani R, Jamil EF, Nor Azahan Shah NAM, Nik Abdul Malek NN. The role of polyamines in anti-proliferative effect of selected Malaysian herbs in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 2015; 77(25): pp 136-140.

Murni YN, Ling SK, Syarifah SS, Zunoliza A, Afiedatul MN. (2017, November). Anti-proliferative effect of Clinacanthus nutans on ovarian, breast and colorectal cancer cell lines. Presented at Persidangan Industri Herba.

Yahaya R, Dash GK, Abdullah MS, Mathews A. Clinacanthus nutans (burm. F.) Lindau: An useful medicinal plant of South-East Asia. International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 2015; 7(6): pp 1244-1250.

Joshi K, Awte S, Bhatnagar P, Walunj S, Gupta R, Joshi S, et al. Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract inhibits proinflammatory cytokine TNF: in vitro and in vivo studies. Research in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2010; 2(2): pp 14-21.

Taher M, Majid FAA, Sarmidi MR. A proanthocyanidin from Cinnamomum zeylanicum stimulates phosphorylation of insulin receptor in 3t3-L1 adipocytes. Jurnal Teknologi 2006; 44: pp 53-68.

Azahari N, Khattak MMAK, Taher M, Arief Ichwan S. Dose water extract of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) exhibits anti-diabetic properties in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes: a concurrent assessment of adipogenesis, lipolysis and glucose uptakes. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2014; 2(11): pp 764-769.

Jantan IB, Karim Moharam BA, Santhanam J, Jamal JA. Correlation between chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oils of eight Cinnamomum species. Pharmaceutical Biology 2008; 46(6): pp 406-412.

Rao PV, Gan SH. Cinnamon: A multifaceted medicinal plant. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014; vol.2014: pp 12.

Rajesh H, Rao S, Megha Rani N, Prathima K, Rajeesh E, Chandrashekar R. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of Curcuma longa Linn Rhizome. International Journal of Universal Pharmacy and Bio Sciences 2013; 2(2): pp 39-45.

Zahidah A, Faizah O, Aqilah KN, Anna KT. Curcumin as an anti-arthritic agent in collagen-induced arthritic Sprague-Dawley rats. Sains Malaysiana 2012; 41(5): pp 591-595.

Hussan F, Ibraheem NG, Kamarudin TA, Shuid AN, Soelaiman IN, Othman F. Curcumin protects against ovariectomy-induced bone changes in rat model. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012; vol.2012: pp 1-7.

Latifah S, Faujan H, Sze L, Raha A, Hisyam A, LI O. Curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa) induced apoptosis in human mammary carcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231). Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2006; 2(2): pp 71-79.

Nasai NB, Abba Y, Abdullah FFJ, Marimuthu M, Tijjani A, Sadiq MA, et al. In vitro larvicidal effects of ethanolic extract of Curcuma Longa Linn. on Haemonchus larval stage. Veterinary World 2016; 9(4): pp 417-420.

Khaliq T, Sarfraz M, Ashraf M. Recent progress for the utilization of Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum and Phoenix dactylifera seeds against type 2 diabetes. The West Indian Medical Journal 2015; 64(5): pp 527-532.

Jarukamjorn K, Nemoto N. Pharmacological aspects of Andrographis paniculata on health and its major diterpenoid constituent andrographolide. Journal of Health Science 2008; 54(4): pp 370-381.

Kunsorn P, Ruangrungsi N, Lipipun V, Khanboon A, Rungsihirunrat K. The identities and anti-herpes simplex virus activity of Clinacanthus nutans and Clinacanthus siamensis. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2013; 3(4): pp 284-290.

Chakraborty A, Sankaran V, Ramar M, Chellappan DR. Chemical analysis of leaf essential oil of Cinnamomum verum from Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceucal Sciences 2015; 8(3): pp 476-479.

Kuddus MR, Rumi F, Kaisar MA, Hasan CM. Sesquiterpene and phenylpropanoids from Curcuma longa. Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 2010; 13(2): pp 31-34.




Copyright (c) 2017 Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (JBCS)



 

Flag Counter           

                     

                                              Copyright © 2016 AMDI Publisher, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Disclaimer : This website has been updated to the best of our knowledge to be accurate. However, Universiti Sains Malaysia shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by the usage of any information obtained from this web site.
                                            Best viewed: Mozilla Firefox 4.0 & Google Chrome at 1024 × 768 resolution.