MyMedR

p-O-geranylcoumaric acid from Melicope lunu-ankenda

Ramli I, Kamarulzaman NH, Shaari K, Ee GC

Nat Prod Res, 2004 Aug;18(4):289-94.

Leaf extracts of Melicope lunu-ankenda were chemically studied and found to contain mixtures of hydrocarbons and squalene, fatty acids and esters. A geranylated coumaric acid was isolated as the major compound. The crude dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the leaves were found to be strongly larvicidal with LC50 values below 20 microg mL(-1). This is a first isolation of p-O-geranylcoumaric acid from this plant.

Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum soulattri source of anti-proliferative xanthones and their structure-activity relationships

Mah SH, Ee GC, Teh SS, Sukari MA

Nat Prod Res, 2015;29(1):98-101.

PMID: 25229947 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2014.959949

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.

A new furanoxanthone from Garcinia mangostana

Ee GC, See I, Teh SS, Daud S

J Asian Nat Prod Res, 2014;16(7):790-4.

PMID: 24670077 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2014.901313

Our phytochemical study on the stem bark of Garcinia mangostana has led to the discovery of a new furanoxanthone, mangaxanthone A (1), together with five known analogs. The five known analogs that were isolated are α-mangostin (2), β-mangostin (3), cowagarcinone B (4), and dulcisxanthone F (5). The structural elucidations of these compounds were carried out by interpreting their spectroscopic data, mainly 1D and 2D NMR spectra and MS.

Biochemical characterisation during seed development of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Kok SY, Namasivayam P, Ee GC, Ong-Abdullah M

J Plant Res, 2013 Jul;126(4):539-47.

PMID: 23575803 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-013-0560-8

Developmental biochemical information is a vital base for the elucidation of seed physiology and metabolism. However, no data regarding the biochemical profile of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seed development has been reported thus far. In this study, the biochemical changes in the developing oil palm seed were investigated to study their developmental pattern. The biochemical composition found in the seed differed significantly among the developmental stages. During early seed development, the water, hexose (glucose and fructose), calcium and manganese contents were present in significantly high levels compared to the late developmental stage. Remarkable changes in the biochemical composition were observed at 10 weeks after anthesis (WAA): the dry weight and sucrose content increased significantly, whereas the water content and hexose content declined. The switch from a high to low hexose/sucrose ratio could be used to identify the onset of the maturation phase. At the late stage, dramatic water loss occurred, whereas the content of storage reserves increased progressively. Lauric acid was the most abundant fatty acid found in oil palm seed starting from 10 WAA.

Garcinia mangostana: a source of potential anti-cancer lead compounds against CEM-SS cell line

Ee GC, Daud S, Izzaddin SA, Rahmani M

J Asian Nat Prod Res, 2008 May-Jun;10(5-6):475-9.

PMID: 18464091 DOI: 10.1080/10286020801948490

Our current interest in searching for natural anti-cancer lead compounds from plants has led us to the discovery that the stem and roots of Garcinia mangostana can be a source of such compounds. The stem furnished 2,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone (1), which is a new xanthone. Meanwhile, the root bark of the plant furnished six xanthones, namely alpha-mangostin (2), beta-mangostin (3), gamma-mangostin (4), garcinone D (5), mangostanol (6), and gartanin (7). The hexane and chloroform extracts of the root bark of G. mangostana as well as the hexane extract of the stem bark were found to be active against the CEM-SS cell line. gamma-Mangostin (4) showed good activity with a very low IC(50) value of 4.7 microg/ml, while alpha-mangostin (2), mangostanol (6), and garcinone D (5) showed significant activities with IC(50) values of 5.5, 9.6, and 3.2 microg/ml, respectively. This is the first report on the cytotoxicity of the extracts of the stem and root bark of G. mangostana and of alpha-mangostin, mangostanol, and garcinone D against the CEM-SS cell line.

Xanthones from Garcinia mangostana (Guttiferae)

Ee GC, Daud S, Taufiq-Yap YH, Ismail NH, Rahmani M

Nat Prod Res, 2006 Oct;20(12):1067-73.

PMID: 17127660

Studies on the stem of Garcinia mangostana have led to the isolation of one new xanthone mangosharin (1) (2,6-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone) and six other prenylated xanthones, alpha-mangostin (2), beta-mangostin (3), garcinone D (4), 1,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone (5), mangostanol (6) and 5,9-dihydroxy-8- methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2H,6H-pyrano-[3,2-b]-xanthene-6-one (7). The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectrometry (MS) and by comparison with previous studies. All the crude extracts when screened for their larvicidal activities indicated very good toxicity against the larvae of Aedes aegypti. This article reports the isolation and identification of the above compounds as well as bioassay data for the crude extracts. These bioassay data have not been reported before.

Comparative proteomic analysis of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) during early fruit development

Kok SY, Namasivayam P, Ee GC, Ong-Abdullah M

J Proteomics, 2021 02 10;232:104052.

PMID: 33262095 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.104052

To gain insights on protein changes in fruit setting and growth in oil palm, a comparative proteomic approach was undertaken to study proteome changes during its early development. The variations in the proteome at five early developmental stages were investigated via a gel-based proteomic technique. A total of 129 variant proteins were determined using mass spectrometric analysis, resulting in 80 identifications. The majority of the identified protein species were classified as energy and metabolism, stress response/defence and cell structure during early oil palm development representing potential candidates for the control of final fruit size and composition. Seven prominent protein species were then characterised using real-time polymerase chain reaction to validate the mRNA expression against the protein abundant profiles. Transcript and protein profiles were parallel across the developmental stages, but divergent expression was observed in one protein spot, indicative of possible post-transcriptional events. Our results revealed protein changes in early oil palm fruit development provide valuable information in the understanding of fruit growth and metabolism during early stages that may contribute towards improving agronomic traits. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry approach was used in this study to identify differentially expressed proteins during early oil palm fruit development. A total of 80 protein spots with significant change in abundance were successfully identified and selected genes were analysed using real time PCR to validate their expression. The dynamic changes in oil palm fruit proteome during early development were mostly active in primary and energy metabolism, stress responses, cell structure and protein metabolism. This study reveals the physiological processes during early oil palm fruit development and provides a reference proteome for further improvements in fruit quality traits.

Fulltext Cytotoxic activities of chemical constituents from Mesua daphnifolia

Ee GC, Lim CK, Rahmat A, Lee HL

Trop Biomed, 2005 Dec;22(2):99-102.

PMID: 16883274

Detail chemical investigations on the stem bark of Mesua daphnifolia gave three triterpenoids and four xanthones. They are friedelin (1), friedelan-1,3-dione (2), lup-20(29)- en-3ss-ol (3), cudraxanthone G (4), ananixanthone (5), 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-methoxyxanthone (6) and euxanthone (7). These chemical constituents were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activities against four cell lines, MDA-MB-231 (human estrogen receptor negative breast cancer), HeLa (cervical carcinoma), CEM-SS (T-lymphoblastic leukemia) and CaOV3 (human ovarian cancer). Compound 4 showed a broad spectrum of activity against the MDA-MB-231, HeLa and CEM-SS cell lines with IC5 0 values of 1.3, 4.0 and 6.7 microg/ml respectively. Meanwhile, the other compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 gave only selective activities against the cell lines.

Fulltext Anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinergic and cytotoxic effects of Sida rhombifolia

Mah SH, Teh SS, Ee GC

Pharm Biol, 2017 Dec;55(1):920-928.

PMID: 28152649 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1285322

CONTEXT: Sida (Malvaceae) has been used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of diarrhoea, malarial, gastrointestinal dysentery, fevers, asthma and inflammation.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and anti-cholinergic activities of Sida rhombifolia Linn. whole plant for the first time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: S. rhombifolia whole plant was extracted by n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol using Soxhlet apparatus. The plant extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant (DPPH, FIC and FRAP), anti-inflammatory (NO and protein denaturation inhibitions), cytotoxic (MTT) and anti-cholinesterase (AChE) properties in a range of concentrations to obtain IC50 values. GC-MS analysis was carried out on the n-hexane extract.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the most significant antioxidant activities by scavenging DPPH radicals and ferrous ions with EC50 of 380.5 and 263.4 μg/mL, respectively. In contrast, the n-hexane extract showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 of 52.16 and 146.03 μg/mL for NO and protein denaturation inhibition assays, respectively. The same extract also revealed the strongest effects in anti-cholinesterase and cytotoxic tests at the concentration of 100 μg/mL, AChE enzyme inhibition was 58.55% and human cancer cells, SNU-1 and Hep G2 inhibition was 68.52% and 47.82%, respectively. The phytochemicals present in the n-hexane extract are palmitic acid, linoleic acid and γ-sitosterol.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that the n-hexane extract possessed relatively high pharmacological activities in anti-inflammation, cytotoxicity and anti-cholinesterase assays. Thus, further work on the detail mechanism of the bioactive phytochemicals which contribute to the biological properties are strongly recommended.

Fulltext Antiproliferative xanthone derivatives from Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum soulattri

Mah SH, Lian Ee GC, Teh SS, Sukari MA

Pak J Pharm Sci, 2015 Mar;28(2):425-9.

PMID: 25730799

Structure-activity relationships of eleven xanthones were comparatively predicted for four cancer cell lines after the compounds were subjected to antiproliferative assay against B-lymphocyte cells (Raji), colon carcinoma cells (LS174T), human neuroblastoma cells (IMR-32) and skin carcinoma cells (SK-MEL-28). The eleven chemical constituents were obtained naturally from the stem bark of Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum soulattri. Inophinnin (1) and inophinone (2) were isolated from Calophyllum inophyllum while soulattrin (3) and phylattrin (4) were found from Calophyllum soulattri. The other xanthones were from both Calophyllum sp. and they are pyranojacareubin (5), rheediaxanthone A (6), macluraxanthone (7), 4-hydroxyxanthone (8), caloxanthone C (9), brasixanthone B (10) and trapezifolixanthone (11). Compound 3 was found to be the most cytotoxic towards all the cancer cell lines with an IC50 value of 1.25μg/mL while the simplest xanthone, compound 8 was inactive.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of anticancer agents from Bauhinia kockiana Korth

Chew YL, Lim YY, Stanslas J, Ee GC, Goh JK

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med, 2014;11(3):291-9.

PMID: 25371595

BACKGROUND: Flowers of Bauhinia kockiana were investigated for their anticancer properties.

METHODS: Gallic acid (1), and methyl gallate (2), were isolated via bioassay-directed isolation, and they exhibited anticancer properties towards several cancer cell lines, examined using MTT cell viability assay. Pyrogallol (3) was examined against the same cancer cell lines to deduce the bioactive functional group of the phenolic compounds.

RESULTS: The results showed that the phenolic compounds could exhibit moderate to weak cytotoxicity towards certain cell lines (GI50 30 - 86 µM), but were inactive towards DU145 prostate cancer cell (GI50 > 100 µM).

CONCLUSION: It was observed that pyrogallol moiety was one of the essential functional structures of the phenolic compounds in exhibiting anticancer activity. Also, the carboxyl group of compound 1 was also important in anticancer activity. Examination of the PC-3 cells treated with compound 1 using fluorescence microscopy showed that PC-3 cells were killed by apoptosis.

A new coumarin from Calophyllum hosei

Daud SB, Ee GC, Malek EA, Teh SS, See I

Nat Prod Res, 2014;28(19):1534-8.

PMID: 24897077 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2014.924001

A new coumarin, hoseimarin (1), together with four other xanthones, trapezifolizanthone (2), osajaxanthone (3), β-mangostin (4) and caloxanthone A (5), were isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum hosei. The structures of these compounds were established by using spectroscopic analysis which included (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, COSY, DEPT, HMQC and HMBC experiments.

Fulltext Two new chemical constituents from the stem bark of Garcinia mangostana

See I, Ee GC, Teh SS, Kadir AA, Daud S

Molecules, 2014 Jun 04;19(6):7308-16.

PMID: 24901833 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19067308

A detailed chemical study on the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the stem bark of Garcinia mangostana resulted in the successful isolation of one new prenylated xanthone, mangaxanthone B (1), one new benzophenone, mangaphenone (2), and two known xanthones, mangostanin (3) and mangostenol (4). The structures of these compounds were elucidated through analysis of their spectroscopic data obtained using 1D and 2D NMR and MS techniques.

Fulltext In vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Mesua beccariana (Baill.) Kosterm., Mesua ferrea Linn., and Mesua congestiflora extracts

Teh SS, Ee GC, Mah SH, Yong YK, Lim YM, Rahmani M, et al.

Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:517072.

PMID: 24089682 DOI: 10.1155/2013/517072

The in vitro cytotoxicity tests on the extracts of Mesua beccariana, M. ferrea, and M. congestiflora against Raji, SNU-1, HeLa, LS-174T, NCI-H23, SK-MEL-28, Hep-G2, IMR-32, and K562 were achieved using MTT assay. The methanol extracts of Mesua beccariana showed its potency towards the proliferation of B-lymphoma cell (Raji). In addition, only the nonpolar to semipolar extracts (hexane to ethyl acetate) of the three Mesua species indicated cytotoxic effects on the tested panel of human cancer cell lines. Antioxidant assays were evaluated using DPPH scavenging radical assay and Folin-Ciocalteu method. The methanol extracts of M. beccariana and M. ferrea showed high antioxidant activities with low EC₅₀ values of 12.70 and 9.77 μg/mL, respectively, which are comparable to that of ascorbic acid (EC₅₀ = 5.62 μg/mL). Antibacterial tests were carried out using four Gram positive and four Gram negative bacteria on Mesua beccariana extracts. All the extracts showed negative results in the inhibition of Gram negative bacteria. Nevertheless, methanol extracts showed some activities against Gram positive bacteria which are Bacillus cereus, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), while the hexane extract also contributed some activities towards Bacillus cereus.

Antioxidant activity-guided separation of coumarins and lignan from Melicope glabra (Rutaceae)

Kassim NK, Rahmani M, Ismail A, Sukari MA, Ee GC, Nasir NM, et al.

Food Chem, 2013 Aug 15;139(1-4):87-92.

PMID: 23561082 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.01.108

The ethyl acetate and methanol bark extracts of Melicope glabra were evaluated for their antioxidant capacities by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and β-carotene bleaching/linoleic acid system. Both extracts exhibited strong inhibition against the DPPH radical (IC50 values of 24.81 and 13.01 μg ml(-1), respectively) and strong antioxidant activity in β-carotene bleaching assay. Both samples were found to have high phenolic content with values of 39 and 44 mg GAE/g as indicated by Follin-Ciocalteau's reagent. Antioxidant TLC assay-guided isolation on the methanol extract led to the isolation of a new pyranocoumarin, glabranin (1), umbelliferone (2), scopoletin (3) and sesamin (4), and their structures were determined by spectroscopy. Compounds (1-3) showed significant activities on DPPH free radical with the IC50 of 240.20, 810.02 and 413.19 μg ml(-1), respectively. However, in β-carotene bleaching assay, sesamin (4) showed higher inhibitory activity (1 mg ml(-1), 95%) than glabranin (1) (1 mg ml(-1), 74%), whilst umbelliferone (2) and scopoletin (3) were slightly pro-oxidant.

Fulltext Two new acridone alkaloids from Glycosmis macrantha

Yahayu MA, Rahmani M, Hashim NM, Amin MA, Ee GC, Sukari MA, et al.

Molecules, 2011 May 27;16(6):4401-7.

PMID: 21623311 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16064401

Extraction and chromatographic separation of the extracts of dried stem barks of Glycosmis macrantha lead to isolation of two new acridone alkaloids, macranthanine and 7-hydroxynoracronycine, and a known acridone, atalaphyllidine. The structures of these alkaloids were determined by detailed spectral analysis and also by comparison with reported data.

Fulltext Soulamarin, a new coumarin from stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri

Ee GC, Mah SH, Teh SS, Rahmani M, Go R, Taufiq-Yap YH

Molecules, 2011 Nov 23;16(11):9721-7.

PMID: 22113580 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16119721

The extracts of the stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri gave a new pyranocoumarin, soulamarin (1), together with five other xanthones caloxanthone B (2), caloxanthone C (3), macluraxanthone (4), trapezifolixanthone (5) and brasixanthone B (6) one common triterpene, friedelin (7), and the steroidal triterpene stigmasterol (8). The structures of these compounds were established based on spectral evidence (1D and 2D NMR).

Fulltext Caloxanthone C: a pyran-oxanthone from the stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri

Ee GC, Mah SH, Kwong HC, Teh SS, Mohamed Tahir MI, Silong S

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2011 Oct 1;67(Pt 10):o2607-8.

PMID: 22064829 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536811036294

THE TITLE COMPOUND [SYSTEMATIC NAME: 5,10-di-hy-droxy-2,2-di-methyl-12-(2-methyl-but-3-en-2-yl)-pyrano[3,2-b]xanthen-6(2H)-one], C(23)H(22)O(5), isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum soulattri, consists of four six-membered rings and a 2-methyl-but-3-en-2-yl side chain. The tricyclic xanthone ring system is almost planar [maximum deviation = 0.093 (2) Å], whereas the pyran-oid ring is in a distorted boat conformation. The 2-methyl-but-3-en-2-yl side chain is in a synperiplanar conformation. There are two intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O inter-actions, forming a zigzag chain propagating in [010].

A new furanoxanthone from the stem bark of Calophyllum inophyllum

Ee GC, Mah SH, Rahmani M, Taufiq-Yap YH, Teh SS, Lim YM

J Asian Nat Prod Res, 2011 Oct;13(10):956-60.

PMID: 21972812 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2011.600248

The stem bark extracts of Calophyllum inophyllum furnished one new furanoxanthone, inophinnin (1), in addition to inophyllin A (2), macluraxanthone (3), pyranojacareubin (4), 4-hydroxyxanthone, friedelin, stigmasterol, and betulinic acid. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data ((1)H, (13)C, DEPT, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) while EI-MS gave the molecular mass. The new xanthone, inophinnin (1), exhibited some anti-inflammatory activity in nitric oxide assay.

Fulltext A novel cyclodione coumarin from the stem bark of Mesua beccariana

Ee GC, Teh SS, Mah SH, Rahmani M, Taufiq-Yap YH, Awang K

Molecules, 2011 Aug 25;16(9):7249-55.

PMID: 21869752 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16097249

Our ongoing investigations on the stem bark of Mesua beccariana afforded a novel cyclodione coumarin, beccamarin, together with two known xanthones, mesuarianone, mesuasinone, two anthraquinones, 4-methoxy-1,3,5-trihydroxy-anthraquinone and 2,5-dihydroxy-1,3,4-trimethoxyanthraquinone and one coumarin, mammea A/AB. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and MS techniques.

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 46 in total