Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 4(1), pp.

027-032, 4 January, 2010

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/jmpr
ISSN 1996-0875© 2010 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemicals, antioxidant properties and anticancer

investigations of the different parts of several gingers
species (Boesenbergia rotunda, Boesenbergia
pulchella var attenuata and Boesenbergia armeniaca)
Ling Jing Jing1, Maryati Mohamed2, Asmah Rahmat3 and Mohd Fadzelly Abu Bakar1*
1
Laboratory of Natural Products, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Locked Bag
No. 2073, 88999, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
2
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environment, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat,
Johor, Malaysia.
3
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400,
UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Accepted 16 October, 2009

Extracts (methanol) of the leaves, stem and rhizome of Boesenbergia species were studied for their
phytochemical constituents, total phenolics and flavonoid contents, antioxidant as well as anticancer
properties. The plants revealed the presence of polyphenols such as quercetin, kaempferol, rutin,
naringin, hesperidin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic
acid, luteolin and diosmin by using High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC). It was indicated
with significant composition of hesperidin and naringin in B. pulchella var attenuata (leaves and stem);
quercetin and kaempferol in B. rotunda; luteolin in B. armeniaca. The results of antioxidant
assessments conducted were similar to the trend of total phenolic and flavonoid contents: B. pulchella
var attenuata> B. rotunda> B. armeniaca. In the cytotoxicity assay, B. rotunda showed the most
prominent and promising result as anticancer medicinal plant. It showed positive antiproliferative effect
against five cancer cell lines: ovarian (CaOV3), breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7), cervical (HeLa) and
colon (HT-29) cancer cell lines with 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)
assay conducted. In addition, the rhizome of B. pulchella var attenuata and B. armeniaca shown
positive result in cytotoxicity assay tested against breast cancer (MCF-7). Thus, the Boesenbergia
species investigated would be a promising anticancer remedy for breast cancer.

Key words: Phytochemicals, antioxidant, anticancer, Boesenbergia.

INTRODUCTION

Strong epidemiological evidence suggests that regular chemicals are plant chemicals or more appropriately
consumption of fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer defined as bioactive non-nutrient plant compounds in ci-
risk. Towards this end, the past several decades have trus fruits, vegetables, grains and other plant foods that
been an explosion of research focused on the role played have been linked to reduce the risks of major chronic
by antioxidant nutrients in human cancer. Phytochemicals diseases and cancers. Phytochemicals in common fruits
are available in vegetables and fruits. Briefly, phyto- and vegetables can have complementary and overlap-
ping mechanisms of action, including of gene expression
in cell proliferation, cell differentiation, oncogenes and
tumour suppressor genes; induction of cell-cycle arrest
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: and apoptosis; modulation of enzyme activities in detoxifi-
+6088-320104. Fax: +6088-320291. cation, oxidation and reduction; stimulation of the immune
028 J. Med. Plant. Res.

system; regulation of hormone metabolism; as well as 0.50 mm mesh size.

antibacterial and antiviral effects (Sun et al., 2002).
Boesenbergia belongs to a ginger family, Sample extraction
Zingiberaceae in the order of Zingiberales. Boesenbergia
is a genus of about 80 Boesenbergia species in the Samples were extracted according to Wettasinghe et al. (2002) with
genus, distributed from India to South East Asia. Borneo, slight modifications. 6 g of powdered leaves and stem as well as
as one of the two distribution centres apart from Thailand, rhizome were extracted with 100 ml methanol in an amber container
for three days. The residue was twice re-extracted with methanol
which estimated to have 25 species (Larsen, 2003). under the same conditions. The resulting slurry was vacuum-filtered
Boesenbergia species is extremely rare compare to other through a Whatman No. 1 filter paper and the filtrate was subjected
genera. Mostly, they are found in very damp, shaded to vacuum rotary evaporation at 40°C to remove methanol. The
areas and usually close to streams or in boggy concentrated methanolic extract was put in the desiccator until the
conditions. extract was free from methanol solvent. The extract was stored in
The genus of Boesenbergia has attracted more than the 4°C refrigerator for future usage.
one specialist in recent years. Many researchers have
proven that the rhizome part of Boesenbergia spp. dis- Analysis of polyphenol composition by high performance
played health-benefits properties. The B. rotunda rhizome liquid chromatographic (HPLC) Standards
has been reported to contain essential oil, boesenbergin,
The flavonoids standards were prepared in methanol-DMSO (v/v;
cardamonin, pinostrobin, 5, 7-dimethoxyflavone, 1, 8- 50:50) at -18°C. They were phenolic acids (caffeic acid, p-coumaric
cineole, panduratin (Kirana et al., 2007). In the primary acid, ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid), flavanones (naringin,
health care project of Thailand, the rhizome of this plant hesperidin), flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol and rutin), flavones
is used for the treatment of dyspepsia. As regards its (luteolin and diosmin) and flavanols (gallic acid). The sample
biological activities, B. rotunda exhibited antibacterial, preparation was done according to Schieber et al. (2001) with slight
antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antis- modification. 0.1 g sample was added in 1ml methanol-DMSO (v/v;
50:50) in a centrifuge tube. It followed by stirring for 10 min at room
pasmodic, antitumor and insecticidal activities (Tewtrakul temperature. Then, it was centrifuged at 9000 rpm for 15 min at
et al., 2003). The rhizome of B. rotunda is generally used 4°C. Supernatant were top up to 2.5 ml and filtered with 0.45 µm
as a culinary spice in Thailand and also has been used membrane filter.
for the treatment of oral diseases (that is dry mouth),
stomach discomfort, stomach pain, leucorrhoea, diuretic,
High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC)
dysentery, and inflammation. The rhizomes are used in
traditional medicine as antiseptic and for the treatment of The HPLC system consisted of a Waters system (Milford, MA, USA)
stomach ache (Hasnah et al., 1995), diarrhea, dermatitis, 717 autoinjector, 616 pump, and 996 PDA detectors. C18 column
dry cough and mouth ulcers (Burkill, 1935; Heyne, 1987), (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 m) was used. The mobile phase consisted of 2%
gastrointestinal disorders and post-natal treatment acetic acid (aqueous) (eluent A) and of 0.5 % acetic acid
(aqueous)-acetonitrile (50:50; v/v) (eluent B). The gradient elution
(Burkill, 1935). Mahady (2005) reported new in vitro and was at 0 time, 95:5; 10 min, 90:10; 40 min, 60:40; 55 min, 45:55; 60
in vivo data on two Thai plants from the Zingiberaceae, min, 20:80; 65 min, 0:100 with the flow rate of 1 ml/min. The UV
namely finger-root (B. rotunda (L.) Mansf.) and turmeric absorbance measured at 280 nm for phenolic acid, flavanone,
(Curcuma longa L.), both of which are used in Thailand flavanol and flavonol while 340 nm for flavones.
for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments, including
peptic ulcer disease. These antioxidant and anti- Total phenolic content determination
inflammatory compounds have often been shown to be
effective as anticancer agents. Total phenolics were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent as
Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to adapted from Velioglu et al. (1998). Two hundred milligrams of
evaluate the polyphenolic compounds, antioxidant activity sample was extracted for 2 h with 2 ml of 80% methanol containing
1% hydrochloric acid at room temperature on an orbital shaker set
and cytotoxicity effects of selected Boesenbergia species at 200 rpm. The mixture was centrifuged at 1000 g for 15 min and
in Sabah, Malaysia. In this study, B. rotunda (available in the supernatant decanted into 4 ml vials. The pellets were extracted
Peninsular Malaysia) was chosen as positive control. under identical conditions. Supernatants was combined and used
for total phenolics assay. One hundred microliters of extract was
mixed with 0.75 ml of Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent (previously diluted
MATERIALS AND METHODS 10-fold with distilled water) and allowed to stand at 22°C for 5 min;
0.75 ml of sodium bicarbonate (60 g/L) solution was added to the
Sample collection and preparation mixture. After 90 min at 22°C, absorbance was measured at 725
nm. Result was expressed as ferulic acid equivalents.
Whole plant (leaves, stem and rhizome) of B. armeniaca, B.
pulchella var attenuata and B. rotunda were collected and
processed in the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation of Total flavonoid content determination
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia. Voucher specimens of these
plants have been deposited at BORNEENSIS, Universiti Malaysia Total flavonoid was measured according to Zhishen et al. (1999). 1
Sabah (BORH) and the Kinabalu Park, Sabah. Authentication was ml aliquot of extract (same extraction method as total phenolic
done by a taxonomist in that department. The leaves and stems as content determination) and appropriately diluted standard solution
well as rhizome were freeze-dried separately and were ground to of catechin (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/l) was added into a 10 ml
 Jing et al. 029

volumetric flask containing 4 ml deionized water. At zero time, 0.3 Cytotoxicity study
ml of 10% AlCl3 was added. At 6 minutes, 2 ml of 1M NaOH was
added to the mixture. Immediately, the reaction flask was diluted to Culturing of cells: MCF-7 (hormone dependent breast cancer),
the volume with the addition of 2.4 ml of deionized water and MDA-MB-231 (non-hormone dependent breast cancer), CaOV3
thoroughly mixed. Absorbance of the mixture, pink in colour was and HeLa (cervical cancer), HT29 (colon cancer) cell lines were
determined at 510 nm versus prepared water blank. Total flavonoid obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, USA). 3T3
of the samples was expressed on a dried weight as mg/100 g (mouse fibroblast cell lines) was the normal cell line that was
catechin equivalent. chosen as control. The cell lines were cultured in RPMI 1640
medium with L-glutamine. The cells were cultured in the medium
supplemented with 10% of fetal calf serum, 1% penicillin
Antioxidant activities streptomycin using 25 cm2 flasks in an incubator at 37°C.

ABTS•+ decolorization assay: 2, 2’-azinobis (3- MTT Assay (Roche Diagnostic, USA): The viability of cells was
ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid or ABTS free radical determined by staining with tryphan blue. Exponential growing cells
decolorization assay was done according to Re et al. (1999) with was harvested and counted by using haemocytometer. The specific
some modification. Briefly, the pre-formed radical monocation of medium for that particular cell line was used to dilute the cells to a
ABTS was generated by reacting ABTS solution (7 mM) with 2.45 concentration of 1 × 105 cells ml-1. From this cell suspension, 100 µl
mM potassium persulfate (K2S2O8). The mixture was allowed to was pipetted into a 96 well microtiter plate and incubated for 24 h in
stand for 15 h in the dark at room temperature. The solution was a 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C. Sample was extracted in a range of
diluted with methanol to obtain the absorbance of 0.7 ± 0.2 units at doses and added into the plate. After adding the samples extract,
734 nm. The plant extracts was separately dissolved in methanol to new medium was added to make up the final volume of 100µl in
yield a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The aliquot of 200 µl of methanolic each well. The plate was incubated in a 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C
test solution of each sample was added to 2000 µl of ABTS free for 72 h. Then, 10 µl of MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-
radical cation solution. The absorbance, monitored for 5 min was diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reagent was added into each well.
measured spectrophotometrically at 734 nm using a spectrophoto- This plate was incubated again for 4 h in CO2 incubator at 37°C.
meter. Appropriate solvent blanks were run in each assay. The Subsequently, 100µl of solubilization solution was added into each
radical-scavenging activity was expressed as the trolox equivalent well. The cell was then left overnight 37°C, CO2 incubator. Lastly,
antioxidant capacity (TEAC), defined as mMol of trolox per gram of the absorbance was read with the ELISA reader at 550nm
sample. BHT and QCT were used as positive control. (Mosmann, 1983).

DPPH (2, 2 -diphenyl-1-pycryl-hydrazyl) free radical scavenging

action: According to Mensor et al. (2001), 1 ml from 0.3 mM
methanol solution of 2, 2 -diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was
added into 2.5 ml sample or standards. The solution was mixed
vigorously and left to stand at room temperature for 30 min in the OD=optical density
dark. The mixture was measured spectrophotometrically at 518 nm.
The antioxidant activity (AA) was calculated as below:
RESULTS
AA%=
High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Where; Abs is absorbance. The plants revealed the presence of phytochemicals such
as quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, naringin, hesperidin,
The result was also expressed as ascorbic acid equivalent caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid,
antioxidant capacity (AEAC) (Leong and Shui, 2002) using the chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, luteolin and diosmin (Table
following equations:
1). The plants exhibited significant result in hesperidin
and naringin. They were the major flavonoid presented in
AEAC= (IC50 (AA)/IC50 (sample)) x 105
all the samples after HPLC analysis was conducted. B.
Where; AA is ascorbic acid rotunda showed the highest content of quercetin and
kaempferol (Table 1). Quercetin was the major flavonols
FRAP (Ferric reducing/antioxidant power) assay: This presented in B. rotunda, while luteolin was the major
procedure was done according to Benzie and Strain (1996) with flavones in B. armeniaca.
slight modification. The working FRAP reagent was produced by
mixing 300mM acetate buffer (pH 3.6), 10 mM 2, 4, 6-tripyridyl-s-
triazine (TPTZ) solution and 20 mM FeCl3.6H2O in a 10:1:1 ratio
Antioxidant and total phenolic and flavonoid content
prior to use and heated to 37°C in water bath. A total of 3.0 ml
FRAP reagent was added to a cuvette and blank reading was then
taken at 593 nm using spectrophotometer. A total of 100 µl selected The ranking of the three antioxidant assessments (Table
plant extracts and 300 µl distilled water was added to the cuvette. 2) conducted were similar to the trend of total phenolic
After addition of the sample to the FRAP reagent, a second reading and flavonoid contents (Table 3): B. pulchella var
at 593 nm was performed after 4 min. The change in absorbance attenuata> B. rotunda> B. armeniaca. However, the trend
after 4 min from initial blank reading was compared with standard
curve. The FRAP values for the samples was taken determined
of total phenolic and flavonoid compound in the leaves as
using this standard curve. The final result was expressed as the well as stem part were much higher than rhizome of the
concentration of antioxidant having a ferric reducing ability. selected plants (Table 3).
030 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Table 1. The polyphenols contents of Boesenbergia species.

B. pulchella
B. pulchella var
var B. armeniaca B. armeniaca
B. rotunda (Rhizome) attenuata
Polyphenols attenuata (Rhizome) (Leaves & stem)
(Leaves & stem)
(Rhizome)
mg/g dry basis
Quercetin 0.58 ± 4.624 0.04 ± 0.001 0.04 ± 0.028 0.50 ± 0.305 0.21 ± -0.127
Kaempferol 0.61 ± 0.693 0.10 ± 0.020 0.35 ± 0.191 0.14 ± 0.573 0.17 ± 0.687
Rutin ND 0.03 ± 0.001 0.29 ± 0.127 ND ND
Naringin 0.693 ± 0.071 0.21 ± 0.001 23.62 ± 14.29 0.53 ± 0.085 1.23 ± 0.071
Hesperidin 11.91 ± 0.714 0.35 ± 0.001 35.58 ± 0.721 0.45 ± 0.001 1.51 ± 0.148
Caffeic acid 0.03 ± 0.014 0.04 ± 0.001 0.04 ± 0.049 0.36 ± 0.085 0.27 ± 0.014
-Coumaric acid 0.03 ± 0.10 0.03 ± 0.001 0.04 ± 0.007 0.04 ± 0.007 0.04 ± 0.001
Ferulic acid ND 0.02 ± 0.001 1.75 ± 0.410 0.46 ± 0.262 0.93 ± 0.184
Sinapic acid ND ND 0.001 ± 0.007 ND ND
Chlorogenic acid 0.01 ± 0.007 0.01 ± 0.001 0.02 ± 0.001 0.01 ± 0.001 0.01 ± 0.001
Gallic acid ND ND 0.04 ± 0.007 0.01 ± 0.007 ND
Luteolin ND ND ND 0.87 ± 0.007 0.81 ± 0.014
Diosmin ND 0.19 ± 0.001 1.58 ± 0.962 0.73 ± 0.085 0.88 ± 0.035
Data presented are in means ± standard deviation (n = 3)
ND - not detected at the concentration tested.

Table 2. Antioxidant properties of Boesenbergia species.

A B C
Samples ABTS decolorization assay DPPH free radical scavenging FRAP assay
B. rotunda (Rhizome) 4.24 ± 0.01a 4.29 ± 0.55c 1.77 ± 0.09d
B. pulchella var attenuata (Rhizome) 4.63 ± 0.01a 7.05 ± 0.76a 4.63 ± 0.02b
B. pulchella var attenuata (Leaves & stem) 4.37 ± 0.02a 5.09 ± 0.30b 5.26 ± 0.06a
B. armeniaca (Rhizome) 1.60 ± 0.05c 0.94 ± 0.18d 1.81 ± 0.04d
B. armeniaca (Leaves & stem) 3.41 ± 0.06b 4.02 ± 0.84c 2.86 ± 0.14c
.

Values are presented in mean ± SD (n = 3) in which with different letters are significantly different at p < 0.05.
A
ABTS decolorization assay was expressed as Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC (µg/ml)).
B
DPPH free radical scavenging was expressed as mg ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity (AEAC) in 1 g dry sample.
C
FRAP was expressed as ferric reduction to ferrous in 1 g of dry sample.

Table 3. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Boesenbergia species.

A B
Species Total phenolics (mg GAE/g dw) Total flavonoid (mg CE/g dw)
B. rotunda (rhizome) 6.19 ± 0.39c 2.19 ± 0.02d
B. pulchella var attenuata (rhizome) 11.97 ± 0.02b 4.75 ± 0.01b
B. pulchella var attenuata (leaves & stem) 14.15 ± 0.02a 5.7 ± 0.01a
B. armeniaca (rhizome) 2.36 ± 0.06d 1.42 ± 0.03e
B. armeniaca (leaves and stem) 5.92 ± 0.20c 3.64 ± 0.03c
Values are presented in mean ± SD (n = 3) in which with different letters are significantly different at p < 0.05.
A
Total phenolic was expressed as mg gallic acid equivalent (mg GAE) in 1 g of dry sample.
B
Total flavonoid was expressed as mg catechin equivalent (mg CE) in 1 g of dry sample.

Cytotoxicity activity proved that no cytotoxicity was observed in normal cell

lines (Data not shown). B. rotunda showed the most
In the cytotoxicity assay, 3T3 (mouse fibroblast cell lines) prominent and promising result as anticancer medicinal
was the normal cell line that was chosen as control. This plant. It showed positive antiproliferative effect against
 Jing et al. 031

Table 4. IC50 value of samples tested against several cancer cell lines by using MTT assay.

Samples Breast cancer Ovarian cancer Colon cancer Cervix cancer

MCF-7 MDA-MB-231 CaOV3 HT-29 HeLa
B. rotunda (rhizome) 51 66.50 ± 2.12 71.00 ±1.41 52.00 ± 4.24 65.50 ± 2.12
B. pulchella var attenuata (rhizome) 93.00 ± 2.83 ND ND ND ND
B. pulchella var attenuata (leaves) ND ND ND ND ND
B. armeniaca (rhizome) 94.50 ± 0.71 ND ND ND ND
B. armeniaca (leaves) ND ND ND ND ND
Vincristine 8.50 ± 3.41 13.50 ± 3.14 17.50 ± 0.82 <1 ND
DL-Sulforaphane <1 3.00 ± 0.73 2.50 ± 2.47 <1 9.50 ± 5.99
Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 2) which with different letters are significantly different at p< 0.05.
MTT cytotoxicity assay tested against MCF-7 was expressed in IC50 value (µg/ml).
ND - Not detected at concentration tested.

five cancer cell lines: ovarian (CaOV3), breast (MDA-MB- were similar to the trend of total phenolic and flavonoid
231 & MCF-7), cervical (HeLa) and colon (HT-29) cancer contents (Table 3). Phenolic compound have been
cell lines with MTT assay conducted (Table 4). The least reported to defend the plant against microorganisms and
IC50 recorded was the plant extract tested against herbivores (Hada et al., 2001). This might explain the
hormone dependent breast cancer (MCF-7). Vincristine importance of higher phenolic compound in the leaves
and DL-Sulforaphane were used as positive control. and stem part rather than rhizome of the plant. Moreover,
Other than B. rotunda, the plant extracts that shown high correlations were observed in antioxidant capacities
positive result in cytotoxicity assay tested against MCF-7 and phenolic and flavonoid content of the selected plants.
were the rhizome of B. pulchella var attenuata and B. This finding was with the agreement of Abu Bakar et al.
armeniaca (Table 4). However, the extracts were less (2009). Thus, the antioxidant activities most probably
effective than the standards tested in all the cancer cell might be contributed by polyphenols contents in the plant
lines. extracts.
The plants exhibited significant result in hesperidin and
naringin (Table 1). These might be the major components
DISCUSSION contributing to antioxidant activities of the plants inves-
tigated. The ranking of flavanone contents was similar to
Flavonoids are a group of more than 4000 polyphenolic the trend of three antioxidant assessments conducted: B.
compounds that occur naturally in foods of plant origin. pulchella var attenuata> B. rotunda> B. armeniaca. Thus,
Flavonoids are a large class of phytochemicals which are the antioxidant activities most probably might be
omnipresent in human diets, found for example in fruit, contributed by flavanone contents in the plant extracts.
vegetables, tea, chocolate, and wine, and to which a Hesperetin which was categorised as flavanone has been
number of beneficial effects on human health, such as shown to inhibit chemically induced mammary (So et al.,
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral, and 1996), urinary bladder (Yang et al., 1997), and colon
anticarcinogenic activities; while some flavonoids exhibit (Miyagi et al., 2000) carcinogenesis in laboratory animals.
potential for anti–human immunodeficiency virus Quercetin was the major flavonols presented in B.
functions (Yao et al., 2004). Flavonoids are important for rotunda, while luteolin was the major flavones in B.
human health because of their high pharmacological armeniaca (Table 1). Thus, quercetin and luteolin might
activities as radical scavengers. These compounds be the agent possible contributed to anticancer activities
possess a common phenylbenzopyrone structure (C6- (especially MCF-7) in B. rotunda and B. armeniaca
C3-C6), and they are categorized according to the satu- respectively (Table 4). Moreover, Huang et al. (1999)
ration level and opening of the central pyran ring,mainly discovered that quercetin and luteolin induced apoptosis
into flavones, flavanols, isoflavones, flavonols, flava- in a wide range of tumor cells such as HepG2 and MCF-
nones, and flavanonols. 7. Wei et al. (1994) reported that quercetin induced
Phenolic compounds are known as powerful chain apoptosis, characterized by typical morphological
breaking antioxidants (Shahidi and Wanasundara, 1992), changes, in certain tumor cell lines. These findings
may contribute directly to antioxidative action (Duh et al., supported that the two flavonoids types might be
1999). These compounds are very important constituents contributing to anticancer activities.
of plants and their radical scavenging ability is due to Boesenbergia rotunda (formerly known Boesenbergia
their hydroxyl groups (Hatano et al., 1989). The ranking pandurata) (Zingiberaceae) has been used as the main
of the three antioxidant assessments (Table 2) conducted ingredient of a popular traditional tonic called “jamu”
032 J. Med. Plant. Res.

especially for women in Indonesia. The fresh rhizomes the Malaysian forest. In Ghazally I, Murtedza M, Laily D (eds),
are used in cooking and traditional medicine as antiseptic Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn. Bhd: Kuching, Malaysia.
Hatano T, Edamatsu R, Hiramatsu M, Mori A, Fujita Y, Yasuhara D
and for the treatment of stomach ache (Hasnah et al., (1989). Effects of interaction of tannins with co-existing
1995), diarrhea, dermatitis, dry cough and mouth ulcers substances. VI. Effects of tannins and related polyphenols on
(Burkill, 1935; Heyne, 1987), gastrointestinal disorders superoxide anion radical and on DPPH radical. Chem. Pharm.
and post-natal treatment (Burkill, 1935). Another species Bull. 37: 2016-2021
of Boesenbergia, for example, B. stenophylla stem part Heyne K (1987). Tumbuhan berguna Indonesia. Jilid IV. Jakarta:
was used by local people as a charm to protect babies Badan Litbang Kehutanan, pp 592-594.
Kirana C, Jones GP, Record IR, McIntosh GH (2007). Anticancer
from ghosts in the past. The stem was tied to the baby’s properties of panduratin A isolated from Boesenbergia pandurata
hammock. Villagers chew on this plant species to relieve (Zingiberaceae). J. Nat. Med. 61:131–137.
cough, diarrhea and food poisoning. However, B. Larsen K (2003). The Zingiberaceae in Flora of Thailand. In:
pulchella var attenuata and B. armeniaca are not Chantaranothai, P. Larsen, K. Sirirugsa, P, Simpson D. (Eds.).
commonly used as medicinal plant by the local people in Proceedings of the third symposium on the family Zingiberaceae.
Khon Kaen University 1-5.
Sabah. However, these promising findings showed that
Mahady GB (2005). Medicinal plants for the prevention and
the three plants investigated have potential as an treatment of bacterial infections. Curr. Pharm. Design. 11: 2405-
anticancer drug in future. 2427.
The potential medicinal uses of these Boesenbergia Mensor LI, Menezes FS, Leitao GG, Reis AS, dos Santos T, Coube
species are supported by the presence of the above CS, Leitao SG (2001). Screening of Brazillian plant extracts for
mentioned polyphenols constituents, antioxidants and antioxidant activity by the use of DPPH free radical method.
Phytother. Res. 15: 127-130.
anticancer activities. Hence, the need to exploit the Mosmann T (1983). Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and
potentials of these plants especially in areas of traditional survival: Application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. J.
medicine and pharmaceutical industries arises. Immunol. Methods. 16: 55–63.
Miyagi Y, Om AS, Chee KM, Bennink MR (2000). Inhibition of
azoxymethane-induced colon cancer by orange juice. Nutr
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cancer. 36: 224-9
Re N, Pellegrinni A, Proteggente A, Pannala M, Yang C, Rice-
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial Evans (1999). Antioxidant activities applying an improved ABTS
assistance provided by Ministry of Higher Education of radical cation decolorization assay. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 26:
Malaysia (MOHE) under Fundamental Research Grant 1231-1237.
Schieber A, Keller P, Carle R (2001). Determination of phenolic
Scheme (FRGS) entitled: Exploitation of Sabah acids and flavonoids of apple and pear by HPLC. J. Chromatogr.
Biodiversity: Potential antioxidant activity and anticancer A. 910: 265-273.
properties of Zingiberaceae from Sabah rainforest. Shahidi F, Wanasundara PKJPD (1992). Phenolic antioxidants. Cr.
(Project No. FRG0090-BD-1/2006). They also extended Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 32: 67-103.
their appreciation to Institute for Tropical Biology and So FV, Guthrie N, Chambers AF, Moussa M, Carroll KK (1996).
Inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation and delay of
Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia,
mammary tumorigenesis by flavonoids and citrus juices. Nutr.
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Cancer. 262: 167- 81.
Malaysia and Sabah Parks for the use of laboratory Sun J, Chu YF, Wu X, Liu RH (2002). Antioxidant and anti-
facilities and technical assistance. proliferative activities of fruits. J. Agric. Food Chem. 50: 7449-
7454.
Tewtrakul S, Subhadhirasakul S, Puripattanavong J, Panphadung
REFERENCES T, (2003). HIV-1 protease inhibitory substances from the
rhizomes of Boesenbergia pandurata Holtt. Songklanakarin J.
Abu Bakar MF, Mohamed M, Rahmat A, Fry J (2009). Phytoche- Sci. Technol. 25(4): 503-508.
micals and antioxidant activity of different parts of bambangan Velioglu YS, Mazza G, Gao L, Oomah BD (1998). Antioxidant
(Mangifera pajang) and tarap (Artocarpus odoratissimus). Food Activity and Total Phenolics in Selected Fruits, Vegetables, and
Chem. 113: 479-483. Grain Products. J. Agric. Food Chem. 46(10): 4113 -4117.
Benzie IFF, Strain JJ (1996). The ferric reducing ability of plasma Wettasinghe M, Bolling B, Plhak P, Parkin K (2002). Screening for
(FRAP) as a measure of “antioxidant power”: The FRAP assay. phase II enzyme-inducing and antioxidant activities of common
Anal. Biochem. 239: 70-76. vegetables. J. Food Sci. 67: 2583-2588.
Burkill IH (1935). A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Yao LH, Jiang YM, Shi J, Tomas-baeberan FA, Datta N,
Malay Peninsula. London: Government of the Straits Settlements Singanusong R (2004). Flavonoids in Food and Their Health
and Federated Malay State by the Crown agents for the colonies, Benefits. Plant Food Hum. Nutr. 59: 113–122.
1: 1078-1079. Yang M, Tanaka T, Hirose Y, Deguchi T, Mori H, Kawada Y (1997).
Duh PD, Tu YY, Yen GC (1999). Antioxidant activity of water extract Chemopreventive effects of diosmin and hesperidin on N-butyl-N-
of harn jyur (Chyrsanthemum morifolium Ramat). LWT-Food Sci. (4hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine-induced urinary-bladder carcinogene-
Technol. 32: 269–277. sis in male ICR mice. Int. J. Cancer. 73: 719- 24.
Hada M, Hino K, Takeuchi Y (2001). Development of UV defense Zhishen J, Mengcheng T, Jianming W (1999). The determination of
mechanisms during growth of spinach seedlings. Plant Cell Phys. flavonoid contents in mulberry and their scavenging effects on
42(7): 784-787. superoxide radicals. Food Chem. 64: 555-559.
Hasnah MS, Shajarahtunnur J, Neelavany M (1995). Chemical
constituents of Boesenbergia species. Chemical prospecting in