Ahmad, Kartini. Chemical constituents of Murraya Koenigii...

25
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF MURRAYA KOENIGII (RUTACEAE) AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES KARTINI BINTI AHMAD FSAS 1999 25

Transcript of Ahmad, Kartini. Chemical constituents of Murraya Koenigii...

 

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF MURRAYA KOENIGII (RUTACEAE) AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

KARTINI BINTI AHMAD

FSAS 1999 25

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF MURRAYA KOENIGII (RUTACEAE) AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

KARTINI BINTI AHMAD

MASTER OF SCIENCE

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

1999

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF MURRA YA KOENIGII (RUTACEAE) AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

By

KARTINI BINTI AHMAD

Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science

in the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia

May 1 999

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful. I would like to

convey my gratitude to my supervisors, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Aspollah

Hj. Sukari, Associate Professor Dr Mawardi Rahmani and Associate Professor

Dr Abdul Manaf Ali, for their guidance, concern, understanding and support

throughout the development of this project.

I would like to thank all the staff of Chemistry Department for bearing

with my demands and readily assisting me in moments of need.

My heartfelt thanks to all my friends, Kak Pah, Kak Ratna, Pak Sugeng,

Gaber and officemates for the precious help, encouragement and confidence

they gave me during the years of my studies.

Grateful appreaciation is also extended to my beloved husband (Mohd

Azlan Nafiah), my parents, brothers and sisters who were responsible in

completing my study in Universiti Putra Malaysia.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNO'VLEDGEMENTS................................................... II LIST OF TABLES. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... ... . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. v LIST OF FIGURES... ... ..... ...................... ............ ............... Vll LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS................................................ Xl ABSTRACT...................................................................... Xll ABSTRAK... ... . ..... ...... . ........ ... ......... ....................... ....... ... XIV

CHAPTER

I

II

III

IV

INTRODUCTION ........................................... . 1 Murraya koenigii and the Uses. . . .. . . . . . . . . . ......... . . . ..... 1 Screening of Bioactive Compounds... . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Objectives... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 5

LITERATURE REVIE'V .................................. . Previous Works on Murraya Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Biological Activity Assay ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . .

EXPERIMENTAL ........................................... .

6 6

16

22 Extraction and Isolation Processes of Murraya koenigii.. 22

Materials and Methods....... . . . . .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22 Extraction of Murraya koenigii (Stem Bark)...... 23 Extraction of Murraya koenigii (Leaves).. . . . . . . . 29 Extraction of Murraya koenigii (Roots) . . . . . .. . . .. 32

Biological Activity . . . . ... . . . . . . ..... . . . . ..... . . .... . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 Antimicrobial Activity.. . . . .. .. ... .... . ... . . . . . . . . .... 35 Cytotoxicity Assay. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . ... . .. . . . 36 Antitumor Promoting Activity Assay (Detection of the Inhibition of PMA Induced EBV -EA).. . . . . 37

RESULT AND DISCUSSION ............................ .. 41 Extraction and Isolation of Chemical Constituents from Murraya koenigii . . . ..... . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. 41 Isolation of Chemical Constituents from Murraya koenigii (Stem Bark)........................................... 43

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Mahanimbine (31). . . . ... . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. 43 Girinimbine (32). . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . ... . . ... . . . . .. . ... 54 Murrayanine (47)... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Murrayazoline (48). . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 74 Murrayacine (49). . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . .. 86 Sucrose (50)... . . . . ... . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . 96

Isolation of Chemical Constituents from Murraya koenigii (Leaves)..... . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . ... . . ... 102

Long Chain Mixture (51). . . ... . ..... . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . 102 Ethyl Octadecanoate (52). . . ... . . . . .... . . . . . . ... . . . . . . 108 Mahanine (53) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. 111

Isolation of Chemical Constituents from Murraya koenigii (Roots). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

3-Methy1carbazole (54). . . . ... . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . 118 Murrayafoline A (55). . .. . . . ... . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 127

Biological Activities of Crude Extracts and Isolated Compounds of Murraya koenigii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

CONCLUSION ............................................... . 138

BIBLIOGRAPHY 140

VITA 145

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Table

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

LIST OF TABLES

JH, I3C NMR Chemical Shifts (8) and Coupling Patterns of the Protons in HMQC and HMBC Techniques of Mahanimbine (31) ......... . . . ... . ... . ...................... ....... . . . .

JH, I3C NMR Chemical Shifts (8) and Coupling Patterns of the Protons in HMQC and HMBC Techniques

f G· . . b' (i?) o IflnIm Ine __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JH, I3C NMR Chemical Shifts (8) and Coupling Patterns of the Protons in HMQC and HMBC Techniques of Murrayanine (47) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JH, I3C NMR Chemical Shifts (8) and Coupling Patterns of the Protons in HMQC and HMBC Techniques of Murrayazoline (48) . ............ . .. . .... . .... . . . . . . . ... . . ........ .... . .

lH, l3C NMR Chemical Shifts (8) and Coupling Patterns of the Protons in HMQC and HMBC Techniques of Murrayacine (49) ..... . . .... . ... . .... . ....... . . . ....... . .. . ........ . ... .

Chemical Shifts (8) of IH and 13C NMR of Mahanimbine (53) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chemical Shifts (5) of IH and I3C NMR Of 3-Methylcarbazole (54) . . . .. . . . . . . .. . ........ . . . .. . . .. . ..... ... . .... . .

Chemical Shifts (8) of lH and Be NMR Of Murrayafoline A (55) . . .. . ... . .. . ... . .. . . . . . . ... . ... . .. . ....... . .... ..

Antimicrobial activity test results of crude extracts and the isolated pure compounds (diameter in mm) ............... .

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53

63

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85

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117

126

133

135

10

11

Cytotoxicity activity of crude extracts and isolated pure compounds against CEM-SS cell line (T-lymphoblastic leukemia) . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .

In vitro antitumor promoting activity and Raji cell viability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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137

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure

1 Schematic Diagram of the Isolated Compounds From Stern

Page

Bark of M. koenigii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

2 Schematic Diagram of the Isolated Compounds From Leaves of M. koenigii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

3 Schematic Diagram of the Isolated Compounds From Roots of M. koenigii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

4 IR Spectrum of Mahanimbine (31) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " '" 46

5 Mass Spectrum of Mahanimbine (31). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

6 lH-NMR Spectrum of Mahanimbine (32) in CDCl3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

7 13C-NMR Spectrum of Mahanimbine (32) in CDCh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

8 HMQC Spectrum of Mahanimbine (32) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

9 HMBC Spectrum of Mahanimbine (32). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

1 0 13C_1 H Coupling Pattern Observed in HMBC Spectra of Mahanimbine (32). .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 52

11 Mass Fragmentations of Mahanimbine (32). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 52

12 IR Spectrum of Girinimbine (31) . . . . . . . . . .. ... . ... . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . , 56

13 Mass Spectrum of Girinimbine (31). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

1 4 I H -NMR Spectrum o f Girinimbine (31) in CDCh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

15 J3C-NMR Spectrum of Girinimbine (31) in CDCh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

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1 9

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3 1

32

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35

36

HMQC Spectrum of Girinimbine (31) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .

HMBC Spectrum of Girinimbine (31) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . , . . . . . . . .

13C_1H Coupling Pattern Observed in HMBC Spectra of Girinimbine (3 1 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mass Fragmentations of Girinimbine (31) . . . , . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IR Spectrum of Murrayanine (47) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .

Mass Spectrum of Murrayanine (47) . . . . , . ' " . . . . . . . ' " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

lH-NMR Spectrum of Murrayanine (47) in CDCh .. . ... . . . . .. . ... .

13C-NMR Spectrum of Murrayanine (47) in CDCh . . ... . .... . ... . .

HMQC Spectrum of Murrayanine (47) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HMBC Spectrum of Murrayanine (47) .............................. .

13C_1H Coupling Pattern Observed in HMBC Spectra of Murrayanine (47) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mass Fragmentations of Murrayanine (47) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IR Spectrum of Murrayazoline (48) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mass Spectrum of Murrayazoline (48) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mass Fragmentations of Murrayazoline (48) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .

IH-NMR Spectrum of Murrayazoline (48) in CDCh . . .. . . ..... ... .

13C-NMR Spectrum of Murrayazoline (48) in CDCh ... . ... . . . ... .

HMQC Spectrum of Murrayazoline (48) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HMBC Spectrum of Murrayazoline (48) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13C_1 H Coupling Pattern Observed in HMBC Spectra of Murrayazoline (48) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IR Spectrum of Murrayacine (49) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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60

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8 1

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88

37 Mass Spectrum of Murrayacine (49) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

38 IH-NMR Spectrum of Murrayacine (49) in CDCh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

39 13C-NMR Spectrum of Murrayacine (49) in CDCh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

40 HMQC Spectrum of Murrayacine (49) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

4 1 HMBC Spectrum o f Murrayacine (49) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

42 13C_1H Coupling Pattern Observed in HMBC Spectra of Murrayacine (49) . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . , . . , . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

43 IR Spectrum of Sucrose (50) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

44 Mass Spectrum of Sucrose (50) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 99

45 IH-NMR Spectrum of Sucrose (50) in DMSO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

46 13C-NMR Spectrum of Sucrose (50) in DMSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 101

47 IR Spectrum of Long Chain Mixture (5 1 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 04

48 IH NMR Spectrum of Long Chain Mixture (51) in CDCh. . . . . . . . 105

49 Mass Spectrum of Long Chain Mixture (51a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 106

50 Mass Spectrum of Long Chain Mixture (SIb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

51 IR Spectrum of Ethy l Octadecanoate (52) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

52 Mass Spectrum of Ethyl Octadecanoate (52). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

53 Mass Spectrum of Mahanine (53) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 54 IR Spectrum of Mah anine (53) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 14

55 IH-NMR Spectrum of Mahanine (53) in CDCh . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 1 1 5

56 13C-NMR Spectrum of Mahanine (53) in CDC}3. . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . 1 16

57 Mass Spectrum of 3-Methy1carbazole (54) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 120

58 IR Spectrum of 3-Methylcarbazole (54) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . 121

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59 lH-NMR Spectrum of 3-Methy1carbazole (54) in CDCh . . . . . . . . . 1 22

60 COSY Spectrum of 3-Methy1carbazole (54) . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

6 1 13C NMR Spectrum of 3-Methy1carbazole (54) in CDCb . . . . . . . . . 1 24

62 DEPT 13C NMR Spectrum of 3-Methylcarbazole (54) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

63 IR Spectrum of Murrayafoline A (55) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 29

64 Mass Spectrum of Murrayafoline A (55) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

65 IH NMR Spectrum of Murrayafoline A (55) in CDCI3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 1

66 DC NMR Spectrum of Murrayafoline A (55) in CDC13 . . . . . . . . . . 132

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

br broad

CC column chromatography

CDC13 deuterated chloroform

CHCh chloroform

d doublet

dd double doublet

ddd doublet of doublet of doublet

triplet

s s inglet

m multiplet

DMSO dimethyl sulphoxide

Pet. ether petroleum ether

MeOH methanol

m.p melting point

MS Mass Spectrum

NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

TLC Thin Layer Chromatography

IR Infrared

UV Ultraviolet

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Abstract of the thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF MURRAYA KOENIGII (RUTACEAE) AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

By

KARTINI BINTI AHMAD

May 1999

Chairman: Associate Professor Mohd. Aspollah Hj. Sukari, Ph.D.

Faculty : Science and Environmental Studies

The study on Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) involves extraction,

separations by using various chromatographic methods and structural

determination by spectroscopic techniques such as IR, NMR including 2D-NMR

and MS. The structures of the compounds were also elucidated by comparison

with the previous work. I solation works on stem bark of the plant yielded

mahanimbine (31) , girinimbine (32) , murrayanine (47), murrayazoline (48) ,

murrayacine (49) and sucrose (50). From the leaves, five compounds were

isolated and elucidated. Two of them were long chain compounds, Il-decyl-

henecosane (5 1 a) and methoxydotriacontane (51 b) , isolated as a mixture and the

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other compounds were mahanimbine (31) , ethyl octadecanoate (52) and

mahanine (53) .

Further study on the roots of the same plant afforded four compounds

including girinimbine (32), murrayanine (47) , together with 3-methylcarbazole

(54) and murrayafoline A (55).

Crude extract and i solated compounds from various part of this plant

were screened for antimicrobial activity using disc diffus ion method, cytotoxic

activity using rnicrotitration method and antitumor promoting activity using

Epstein B arr virus activation assay. The crude extracts of the roots and pure

isolated compound including mahanimbine (31 ) , girinimbine (32), mahanine

(53) and murrayafol ine A (55) exhibited significant cytotoxicity activity against

CEM-SS cell line with ICso 3 Ilg/ml . Girinimbine (32), although did not show

any cytotoxic activity against CEM-SS cell line, the compound however

inhibited EBV-activation (100%) in the antitumor promoting assay . The

pet. ether , CHCh and MeOH crude extracts of leaves , the methanol extract of

stem bark, mahanimbine (31 ) and g irinimbine (32) failed to show significant

antimicrobial activity, while the pet.ether and the chloroform crude extracts of

the stem bark exhibited weak antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus.

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Abstrak tesis ysng dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Sains

KANDUNGAN KIMIA DAR! MURRAYA KOENIGII (RUTACEAE) DAN ACTIVITI BIOLOGINYA

Oleh

KARTINI BINTI AHMAD

Mei 1999

Pengerusi : Profesor Madya Mohd Aspollah Hj. Sukari, Ph.D.

Fakulti: Sains dan Pengajian Alam Sekitar

Kajian terhadap pokok Murraya koenigii (daun kari) melibatkan

pengekstrakan dan pengasingan menggunakan pelbagai kaedah kromatografi

dan pengenalpastian struktur dengan teknik-teknik spektroskopi seperti

inframerah, resonans magnet nukleus termasuk resonans magnet nukleus dua

dimensi dan spektroskopi jisim. Struktur sebatian yang dipenci1kan juga telah

dibuat perbandingan dengan kajian lepas. Pengasingan keatas kulit batang pokok

ini telah menghasilkan mahanimbin (31), girinimbin (32), murayanin (47),

murayazolin (48), murayasin (49) dan sukros (50). Lima sebatian telah

dipencilkan dan diasingkan daripada daun pokok yang sarna. Dua daripadanya

ialah sebatian rantai panJang, Il-dekil-henekosana (51a) dan

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metoksidotriakontana (51 b), diasingkan sebagai campuran dan sebatian lain

adalah mahanimbin (31). etil oktadekanoat (52) dan mahanin (53).

Kajian seterusnya dilakukan keatas akar pokok yang sama memberikan

empat komponen termasuk girinimbin (32), murayanin (47), bersama dengan 3-

metilkarbazol (54) dan murayafolin A (55).

Ekstrak mentah dan sebatian yang telah diasingkan dari pelbagai

bahagian pokok tersebut juga telah diuji untuk aktiviti-aktiviti antimikrob

menggunakan kaedah resapan cakera, sitotoksik dengan kaedah mikrotitratan

dan anti promosi barah menggunakan kaedah cerakinan pengaktifan virus

Epstein Barr. Ekstrak mentah dari akar dan sebatian yang telah dipencilkan

termasuk mahanimbin (31), girinimbin (32), mahanin (53) dan murayafolin A

(55) menunjukkan aktiviti- aktiviti sitotoksik yang kuat keatas sel CEM-SS

dengan IC50 3 ).lg/ml. Walaubagaimanapun, girinimbin (32) tidak menunjukkan

sebarang aktiviti sitotoksik keatas sei CEM-SS, sebatian ini telah menunjukkan

aktiviti anti promosi barah dengan 100% perencatan. Ekstrak mentah pet.eter,

kloroform dan metanol dari daun, ekstrak metanol dari kulit batang, mahanimbin

(31) dan girinimbin (32) gagal untuk menunjukkan sebarang aktiviti antimikrob,

manakala ekstrak mentah pet.eter dan kloroform dari kulit batang menunjukkan

aktiviti antimikrob yang lemah terhadap Bacillus cereus.

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Murraya koenigii and the Uses

Murraya koenigii is a member of the large Rutaceae family and represented by

about 150 genera and 1600 species. However, in Malaysia, nearly 60 species of this

family can be found including two species of Murraya; namely Murraya koenigii and

lviurraya paniculata. Other Murraya species are M alata, M exotica, M kwangsiensi

and M microphylla, consisting mainly of trees or shrubs and a very small proportion of

herbs all of which flourish in the tropics and sUbtropics.

lvi koenigii (curry leaf) is one of the most widely used plants whose leaves are

added to curries to improves flavour. It is usually cultivated for its aromatic smell which

are used as natural flavourings in curries and souces as reported by Sastri in 1952 fu'1d

Brandis in 1971. The intensive pungent, aromatic leaves are best when fresh, but

adequately retain their potency for some time after picking.

2

This plant is originated from Tarai of Uttar Pradesh, India and distributed

throughout India and Andaman Islands (Sastri, 1 952). Curry leaf odoms every

houseyard of South India and is usually propagated by seeds and roots suckers.

However, attempts to propagate by air layering have not been successful (Phillip et al. 1 98 1 ).

This plant is an unarmed, semideciduous, aromatic, shrub or small tree of about

3-5 meter high with strong woody stem. The branches are covered with dark grey bark.

The woody stem has a closely crowded, shady crown. Leaves are 1 5-20 mm long, have

slightly pungent, bitter and feebly acidulous taste. The flowers are small, 1 cm long and

the small fruits occur in close clusters . It turned from green to red and ultimately black

on ripening (Joseph and Peter, 1 985) .

Various parts of thi s plant have many medicinal uses and values as raw material

for traditional medicine and popular in India (Kirthikar and Basu, 1935) . It have been

reported that the leaves and the roots can cure piles and heat removal of the body,

imflamation and itching, while the powdered leaf is used to aid healing of fresh cuts .

Drury (1978) reported that the green leaves could be eaten in raw for the

treatment of dysentery. As an external application, barks and roots are used to relieve

skin eruptions and the bites by poisonous animals (Dasturs, 1970).

3

Generally, this plant has also been used in the industry, where fresh leaves are

steam distilled under reduced pressure to yield volatile oils (curry leaf oil) which can be

used as a fixative for a heavy type of soap perfume (Joseph et al. 1 985).

Murraya paniculata or local ly known as "kemuning" is a shrub or small tree,

grow wild in many parts of Malays ia. found mainly in the drier parts of the North and

the East coast, or on limestone hills and also often planted in gardens. In appearance the

"kemuning" looks l ike a citrus on account of the dark green, upstanding leaflets . It is

evergreen and apparentl y night-flowering (Comer, 1 988) .

Screening of Bioactive Compounds

In Malaysia the plant remain a very important source of therapeutic traditional

medicine practices among the various ethnic groups. The tropical forest of Malaysia

comprises of more than 15,000 plants species many of which have been claimed to

possess medicinal properties (Ali e t al. 1 995).

Among the species commonly used in the preparation of traditional medicines

are those belonging to the families of Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Araceae and

Rutaceae. Lately, a number of Rutaceous species have been reported to posses

pharmacological activities, which then lead to the isolation and characterization of their

active compounds (Ontengo et al. 1 993). The study of biologically active compound

from plants must be related to their medicinal values .

4

Biological activities of Malaysian plants were first reported by Nakashini et al.

m 1 965. More recently , a more systematic screening of medicinal plants for

antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi was reported by Ali et al. ( 1 995) .

Much effort in previous studies has been devoted in testing the bioactivities of

phytochemicals in the search of new and useful compounds.

The most important factor in the search of new bioactive substances is the

convenience and reliability of the bioassay system. Bioassay for screening purpose must

be inexpensive and rapid, have broad applications to numerous target organisms, be

reproducible and statistically valid . It also must require small amount of the test

substance .

In order to achieve meaningful and significant results, future works in natural

product chemistry must incorporate bioassays (Mc Laughlin, 1 990) . Rahmani et al.

have carried out a screening procedure of tropical plants for the presence of bioactive

compounds by using brine shrimp in 1 992.

Objectives

The objectives of this research were;

1 . To extract, i solate and purify chemical components from stem bark, leaves and roots

of Murraya koenigii.

2. To identify and elucidate the structure of the isolated compounds using modern

spectroscopic methods.

3 . To determine the antimicrobial , cytotoxicity and antitumor promoting activities

againts the extracts and the isolated compounds from Murraya koenigii.

4. To identify the compounds which contribute to the toxicity.

CHAPTER II

LITERA TURE REVIEW

Previous Works on Murraya Species

Many constituents have been reported from the extraction of various part of

1v1urraya species using different type of solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform,

methanol and others. Several coumarins (Gray, 1978; Wu et al. 1980; and Wu, 1981),

carbazole alkaloids (Ganguly et al. 1978) and flavanoids (Dreyer, 1968) have been

isolated. Murraya koenigii has also been proven to be a rich source of carbazole

alkaloids.

Previous work by Furukawa et al. (1985) reported the isolation of several novel

alkaloids including simple carbazole alkaloids, dimeric carbazole alkaloids and

carbazole quinone from the roots and stem bark of Murraya euchrestifolia. Futher study

on the leaves constituents of the same plant by Wu et al. (1991) has resulted in the

isolation of two carbazole alkaloids, bis-7-hydroxygirinimbine-A (1) and -B (2). In the

same year Wu also isolated a few other carbazole alkaloids, including murrayamine-A

(3), -B (4), and -C (5). Murrayamine-A showed significant cytotoxicity in the KB tissue

culture assay at 3.0 ).lg mrl.

6

7

H

H

( 1 )

H

H

(2)

(3) : H (4) : Me (5) : OAc

8

In 1 984. Mahinda et al. reported the isolation and identification of coumarins,

murraglenin (6), mexoticine (7), sibrin (8) and pheabalosin (9) from the petrol extract of

Murraya glenei leaves, together with known compound such as meranzine hydrate (10) .

MeO �

O

CH2CHCHMe2 I I OHOH

Rl R' (6): OMe OMe (7): OMe H

( 1 0) : H H