Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants in Myanmar
155
moiety at C-10 instead of an isobutoxy moiety as in 89, which is a potential antitumor
agent and anti-inflammatory compound [95–102].
Three in vitro bioassays, using cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and antifungal assays,
were conducted with 17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (89) and iso-17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (90) (isolated from E. scaber collected in Myanmar), together
with deoxyelephantopin (91) [87]. The cytotoxicity testing against twelve cell lines
derived from bladder, central nervous system, colon, gastric, head and neck, lung,
mammary, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, renal, and uterine cancers, as well as two
cell lines established from melanomas and pleural mesothelioma, revealed that
17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (89) and iso-17,19-dihydro-deoxyelephantopin
(90) showed activities with mean IC 70 values of 4.0 μg/cm
3 and 4.3 μg/cm
3 against
the melanoma-derived cell line MEXF 394NL, respectively, compared with a mean
IC 70 value of 1.1 μg/cm
3 for 91. This biological testing work showed differences
in the selectivities of 17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (89), iso-17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (90), and deoxyelephantopin (91) according to the cancer cell
lines used, depending on their different functional groups present [87]. Notably,
highly effective activity against the RXF 944L renal cancer cell line was found for
89, whereas marked activity for the LXFL 529L large cell lung cancer cell line was
indicated for 90, the diastereomer of 89. In contrast, pronounced selective activity
in the MAXF 401NL mammary cancer cell line was shown by 91. An antibacterial assay using Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and an antifungal assay
using Candida albicans also revealed that all compounds exhibited 11-mm diameter
inhibition zones at 100 μg/well against S. aureus, whereas the compounds did not
show any inhibitory activities against B. subtilis or C. albicans at this concentration
level [87].
2.6 Phyllanthus niruri L.
Phyllanthus niruri is a small annual herb belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae
(Fig. 19). It is a popular indigenous medicinal herb found in the Amazon rainforest
and other tropical areas, including those in Southeast Asia, Southern India, and
China [103]. P. niruri has a long history in herbal medicine systems such as Indian
Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and Indonesian Jamu. The whole plant is
used as a remedy for many conditions, such as dysentery, influenza, vaginitis, tumors,
diabetes, jaundice, kidney stones, and dyspepsia, in addition to its use as a diuretic.
The plant is also useful for treating hepatotoxicity, hepatitis B, hyperglycemia, and
viral and bacterial diseases [104]. In Malaysia, P. niruri is used internally for diarrhea,
kidney disorders, gonorrhea, and coughs [105]. In turn, P. niruri has been used as
an antiviral and antimalarial remedy as well as for the treatment of jaundice and
hepatitis in Myanmar, where it is known locally as Taung-zi-phyu [106]. A number of
lignans [107–109], alkaloids [110, 111], flavonoids [112], tannins [113], benzenoids
[113, 114], coumarins [115], terpenes [116, 117], phthalates [118], saponins, and
phenylpropanoids [119] have been reported as the active constituents of the leaves,
155
moiety at C-10 instead of an isobutoxy moiety as in 89, which is a potential antitumor
agent and anti-inflammatory compound [95–102].
Three in vitro bioassays, using cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and antifungal assays,
were conducted with 17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (89) and iso-17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (90) (isolated from E. scaber collected in Myanmar), together
with deoxyelephantopin (91) [87]. The cytotoxicity testing against twelve cell lines
derived from bladder, central nervous system, colon, gastric, head and neck, lung,
mammary, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, renal, and uterine cancers, as well as two
cell lines established from melanomas and pleural mesothelioma, revealed that
17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (89) and iso-17,19-dihydro-deoxyelephantopin
(90) showed activities with mean IC 70 values of 4.0 μg/cm
3 and 4.3 μg/cm
3 against
the melanoma-derived cell line MEXF 394NL, respectively, compared with a mean
IC 70 value of 1.1 μg/cm
3 for 91. This biological testing work showed differences
in the selectivities of 17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (89), iso-17,19-dihydrodeoxyelephantopin (90), and deoxyelephantopin (91) according to the cancer cell
lines used, depending on their different functional groups present [87]. Notably,
highly effective activity against the RXF 944L renal cancer cell line was found for
89, whereas marked activity for the LXFL 529L large cell lung cancer cell line was
indicated for 90, the diastereomer of 89. In contrast, pronounced selective activity
in the MAXF 401NL mammary cancer cell line was shown by 91. An antibacterial assay using Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and an antifungal assay
using Candida albicans also revealed that all compounds exhibited 11-mm diameter
inhibition zones at 100 μg/well against S. aureus, whereas the compounds did not
show any inhibitory activities against B. subtilis or C. albicans at this concentration
level [87].
2.6 Phyllanthus niruri L.
Phyllanthus niruri is a small annual herb belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae
(Fig. 19). It is a popular indigenous medicinal herb found in the Amazon rainforest
and other tropical areas, including those in Southeast Asia, Southern India, and
China [103]. P. niruri has a long history in herbal medicine systems such as Indian
Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and Indonesian Jamu. The whole plant is
used as a remedy for many conditions, such as dysentery, influenza, vaginitis, tumors,
diabetes, jaundice, kidney stones, and dyspepsia, in addition to its use as a diuretic.
The plant is also useful for treating hepatotoxicity, hepatitis B, hyperglycemia, and
viral and bacterial diseases [104]. In Malaysia, P. niruri is used internally for diarrhea,
kidney disorders, gonorrhea, and coughs [105]. In turn, P. niruri has been used as
an antiviral and antimalarial remedy as well as for the treatment of jaundice and
hepatitis in Myanmar, where it is known locally as Taung-zi-phyu [106]. A number of
lignans [107–109], alkaloids [110, 111], flavonoids [112], tannins [113], benzenoids
[113, 114], coumarins [115], terpenes [116, 117], phthalates [118], saponins, and
phenylpropanoids [119] have been reported as the active constituents of the leaves,