MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY (MJChem)

MJChem is double-blind peer reviewed journal published by the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry (Institut Kimia Malaysia) E-ISSN: 2550-1658

Alkaloids and Flavonoids Compositions of Traditional Medicinal Value Plants from Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA)

Fatimah Salim
Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor Branch
Nor Hadiani Ismail
Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor Branch
Nurunajah Ab. Ghani
Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor Branch
Norrizah Jaafar Sidik
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Amalina Mohd Tajuddin
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Ahmad Kambali B. Khalil
Universiti Teknologi MARA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v24i4.110

Keywords: Phytochemical test, plant traditional use, medicinal plant, alkaloid, flavonoid

Abstract

Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) represents a land rich in plants that are used traditionally by the locals as remedies for various ailments, however yet to be reported. The ethnomedicinal knowledge inspired researchers to search for novel compounds which might be developed into therapeutic agents and this could start with simple in situ phytochemical tests on the identified plant sample. The present paper reports on the alkaloids and flavonoids compositions in different plant parts of 46 species (57 samples) collected from five trails of Imbak Canyon Study Centre (ICSC) and three trails of Gunung Kuli Study Centre (GKSC) of ICCA. The collection was based on the traditional medicinal usage described by the ICCA rangers and some plants of particular interest to the group. The phytochemical detection for alkaloids and flavonoids was conducted based on Mayer’s reagent and Shinoda test, respectively. Of the 57 samples, 11 samples were found to be positive for both alkaloids and flavonoids. While 12, and 13 samples tested were positive for alkaloids, and flavonoids only, respectively. Of the positive samples, the leaves of Eusideroxylon zwageri (belian), Synsepalum dulcificum (buah ajaib), Pinanga jambusana (pinang bumburing), Pycnarrhena cauliflora (pokok ajinamoto), Cinnamomum sp. (madang sarsi), Ixora capillaris (jenjarum), Mallotus mollissimus (bayor) and the flowers of Curculigo latifolia (lamba) showed high content of alkaloids, whereas Phaleria macrocarpa (mahkota dewa) fruits, Aeschynanthus sp. (hoya) flowers, and the stems of Uncaria calophylla (kalait or talait), Orophea hexandra (karai) as well as Bauhinia diftera (bunga api) were rich in flavonoids. It was found that the detected classes of phytochemicals in most of the plant species are consistent with their previously reported constituent and subsequently could correlate to the plant’s traditional uses. The findings could provide a basis for the selection of high-potential plants from ICCA for future in-depth chemical and pharmacological studies.

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Published 31 December 2022


Issue Vol 24 No 4 (2022): Malaysian Journal of Chemistry

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