Cynometra cauliflora L.: An indigenous tropical fruit tree in Malaysia bearing essential oils and their biological activities
Benedict Samling, Zaini Assim, Woei Yenn Tong, Chean Ring Leong, Syarifah Ab Rashid, Nik Nur Syazni Nik Mohamed Kamal, Musthahimah Muhamad, Wen‐Nee Tan
Abstract
Cynometra cauliflora L., locally known as ‘‘nam-nam” or ‘‘katak puru-puru” in Malaysia \nis belonging to the Fabaceae family. The tree is native to Malaysia and has been used traditionally \nas folk medicine. Limited works have been conducted on C. cauliflora regarding its chemical composition. In view of this, the present study aimed to identify the essential oil (EO) composition of \nthe leaf, twig and fruit of C. cauliflora and evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic \nactivities. EOs obtained from different parts of the tree were analyzed using capillary GC and \nGC/MS. Twenty-six, seventeen and fifty constituents were identified in the leaf, twig and fruit \nEOs of C. cauliflora. Results demonstrated the dominance of monoterpenes hydrocarbons in the \nleaf oil and oxygenated monoterpenes in the twig oil. On the contrary, fruit oil was abundant in \noxygenated sesquiterpenes. Different chemical profiles were found in different parts of EOs which \nhave contributed to varied biological activities. Twig oil (IC50 37.12 ± 2.84 mg/mL) showed better antioxidant power than the leaf (IC50 207.17 ± 2.95 mg/mL) and fruit oils (IC50 461.88 ± 12.61 mg/mL) in \nDPPH assay. Additionally, twig oil inhibited an entire range of microorganisms tested with \ninhibition zones ranging 10.3 ± 0.4 to 29.7 ± 0.4 mm. The twig oil displayed low MIC and MBC values against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 125.0 mg/mL; MBC 250.0 mg/mL) and MRSA \n(MIC 125.0 mg/mL; MBC 250.0 mg/mL). In in vitro MTT assay, twig oil showed antiproliferative effects against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.