Anticancer agents and genetic identification of Pterospermum, an indigenous plant of Sarawak, Malaysia

• Published in: Journal of Taibah University for Science
• Main Author: Steven A.N.; Bachuri K.; Mat Hussin N.S.S.; Mohd Noh N.I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor and Francis Ltd. 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85187875764&doi=10.1080%2f16583655.2024.2325677&partnerID=40&md5=58196d2370c3306d85f3198c290707a9

In Malaysia, Pterospermum is distributed in the states of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah. For centuries, the Bidayuh tribe in Sarawak has been using an indigenous plant to cure patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The plant is called Bayur by the tribe, which is the similar local name known for several Pterospermum species in Sarawak, Sabah, and Indonesia. This study was carried out to genetically identify the indigenous plant using the core barcode loci, rbcL and matK, as well as profiling anticancer agents from this plant. Phylogenetic analyses based on both rbcL and matK loci did not show clear species resolution for the indigenous plant, however, the analyses showed consistent relationships among congeneric species of Pterospermum. Interestingly, UHPLC-QQQ/MS analysis showed the presence of anti-cancer agents in the bark extract, thus supporting the potential of the indigenous plant for breast cancer treatment. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.