**2. Secondary metabolites from Malaysian plants**

A recent review by Buenz et al. described the ethnopharmacologic contribution to bioprospecting natural products [5]. Many databases of traditional medicine uses of natural products have been established, for instance, the PharmDB-K (covering traditional Korean medicine) [6], FERN Ethnomedical Plant Database (covering fern species) [7], AfroDb (covering African medicinal plants) [8], and Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Database (TCM-ID) [9]. In 2002, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia, was granted an approval to host a global electronic information resource on traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) known as Glob*in*Med (http://www.globinmed.com). The project was initially discussed during the 12th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in Barbados in 1998 where the main idea was to establish a working group on TCM-related activities. Glob*in*Med also partners with ASEAN Task Force on Traditional Medicine (ATFTM) and several local institutions to enhance its service.

As one of the 17 megadiversity countries with 15, 000 estimated known plant species, Malaysia has a great potential for bioprospecting toward discovery of compounds with medicinal value. Together with ethnopharmacologic evidences from its rich traditional medicinal practice, several plant species have been selected for the agriculture NKEA-EPP1 (National Key Economic Area, Entry Point Project 1: High Value Herbal Products) [10], namely, tongkat ali (*Eurycoma longifolia* Jack), Misai Kucing (*Orthosiphon aristatus* (Blume) Miq.), Hempedu Bumi (*Andrographis paniculata* (Burm.f.) Nees), Dukung Anak (*Phyllanthus niruri* L.), Kacip Fatimah (*Marantodes pumilum* (Blume) Kuntze (*syn. Labisia pumila* (Blume) Mez)), Mengkudu (*Morinda citrifolia* L.), Roselle (*Hibiscus sabdariffa* L.), ginger (*Zingiber officinale*), Mas Cotek (*Ficus deltoidea* Jack), Belalai

mechanisms against pathogenic microbes, herbivores, and diseases. One of these defense mechanisms is the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenes, saponins, and tannins, which are important in health, food, and environmental fields [2]. For centuries, herbal extracts from a variety of plant species have been used as remedies for a wide spectrum of diseases. Majority of these extracts, the medicinal properties of which are attributable to the secondary metabolites present in the plants and serve as lead molecules in current drug design and development. It is interesting to note that a large number of drugs that have been approbated within the last 25 years are of natural origin and incorporate bioactive material with "drug-like properties" [3]. Even more pertinent is the fact that 12 of the world's 25

Classic examples of plant secondary metabolites that later become lead for drug development include artemisinin from *Artemisia annua* (sweet wormwood, qinghao) for treatment of malaria, digoxin from *Digitalis lanata* (foxglove) for treatment of various heart conditions, and

This chapter will explore Malaysian plants, their secondary metabolites, and their medicinal properties with a particular focus on some selected species under a national project. Other aspects such as plant tissue culture to produce secondary metabolites and a case study on the

A recent review by Buenz et al. described the ethnopharmacologic contribution to bioprospecting natural products [5]. Many databases of traditional medicine uses of natural products have been established, for instance, the PharmDB-K (covering traditional Korean medicine) [6], FERN Ethnomedical Plant Database (covering fern species) [7], AfroDb (covering African medicinal plants) [8], and Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Database (TCM-ID) [9]. In 2002, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia, was granted an approval to host a global electronic information resource on traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) known as Glob*in*Med (http://www.globinmed.com). The project was initially discussed during the 12th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in Barbados in 1998 where the main idea was to establish a working group on TCM-related activities. Glob*in*Med also partners with ASEAN Task Force on Traditional Medicine (ATFTM) and

As one of the 17 megadiversity countries with 15, 000 estimated known plant species, Malaysia has a great potential for bioprospecting toward discovery of compounds with medicinal value. Together with ethnopharmacologic evidences from its rich traditional medicinal practice, several plant species have been selected for the agriculture NKEA-EPP1 (National Key Economic Area, Entry Point Project 1: High Value Herbal Products) [10], namely, tongkat ali (*Eurycoma longifolia* Jack), Misai Kucing (*Orthosiphon aristatus* (Blume) Miq.), Hempedu Bumi (*Andrographis paniculata* (Burm.f.) Nees), Dukung Anak (*Phyllanthus niruri* L.), Kacip Fatimah (*Marantodes pumilum* (Blume) Kuntze (*syn. Labisia pumila* (Blume) Mez)), Mengkudu (*Morinda citrifolia* L.), Roselle (*Hibiscus sabdariffa* L.), ginger (*Zingiber officinale*), Mas Cotek (*Ficus deltoidea* Jack), Belalai

best-selling pharmaceutical agents were obtained from natural products [4].

102 Secondary Metabolites - Sources and Applications

paclitaxel from *Taxus brevifolia* (Pacific yew) as chemotherapy medication.

**2. Secondary metabolites from Malaysian plants**

several local institutions to enhance its service.

use of secondary metabolites in the treatment of dengue fever are also described.

Gajah (*Clinacanthus nutans* (Burm.f.) Lindau), and Pegaga (*Centella asiatica* (L.) Urb) [10]. It is noteworthy that a dietary supplement combining *Labisia pumila* and *Eurycoma longifolia* has reached the clinical trials investigating the effects on menopausal women and their quality of life (trial registration number NCT02269891) [11].

Not discounting many other important local plants, **Table 1** listed some of the important secondary metabolites from the agriculture NKEA-EPP1-select plants to illustrate the myriad of secondary metabolites responsible for various biological effects. The secondary metabolites range from flavonoids, quassinoids, phytosterols, and terpenoids.
