**1. Introduction**

The name of Calophyllum inophyllum is Kallos that is taken from the Greek word, which means beautiful and meaningful Phullon leaves. *C. inophyllum* has many name designations that vary by region country. In the UK, the tree is known as a beautiful leaf (translation from Greek), Indian laurel (because it comes from India), Alexandrian laurel, and beach *Calophyllum* (because the trees usually grow on the waterfront). Moreover, the tree is also called as tamanu (Tahiti), fetau (Samoa), damanu (Fiji Island), te itai (Kiribati Island), nyamplung (Indonesia), Penaga Laut (Malaysia), kamani (Hawaii), foraha (Madagascar), and puna (island of Lakshadweep) [1].

According to Ong [2], the distribution map of *C. inophyllum* in the world is quite extensive. This species is commonly found in areas with a tropical climate. In the world, this species is found in countries such as Australia, Cambodia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Reunion, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

#### *Phytochemicals in Human Health*

As for exotic species (endemic to a region), it can be found in the state of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and the USA.

*C. inophyllum* plant spreads almost evenly throughout Indonesia, such as in the island of Sumatra (West Sumatra, Riau, Kepulauan Riau, Lampung, and Bangka Belitung), Java (Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java), Bali Island, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan (West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan), Sulawesi (North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi), Maluku and North Maluku Islands, and Papua [3]. *C. inophyllum* plant has a taxonomy as follows [4]:

Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Super division: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: *Dilleniidae* Order: *Theales* Family: Clusiaceae

*C. inophyllum* is a plant that is grown in the earthy sand and coastal areas with a hot weather [5]. It can also grow well at an altitude of 0–800 meters above sea level such as in forests, mountains, and swamps [6]. *C. inophyllum* is a versatile crop; all parts of this plant, such as leaves, root, and fruit (**Figure 1**), can be useful for humans. The benefit of its tree, bark, and seed is as plant conservation, source of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and vegetable oil, respectively [7]. In pharmaceuticals, it is known to function as an antibacterial, anticancer, antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antipsychotics, antiviral, photoprotective, molluscicidal, and piscicidal agent [1]. **Table 1** shows the benefits of *C. inophyllum* crops obtained from previous works.

Because all parts of this plant can be useful in treating various diseases, some researchers have conducted further research on the phytochemical content of this plant. According to Ling et al. [1], the compounds which are contained in these plants include inophynone; canophyllol; canophyllic acid; calophyllolide;

**29**

**2.1 Xanthones**

malonate pathways.

Calophyllum inophyllum*: Beneficial Phytochemicals, Their Uses, and Identification*

Root Antibacterial Treat dysentery, gonorrhea,

**Iskandari and Anna [8] Su et al. [9] Ling et al. [1]**

and others

and ringworm

Treat skin rashes, swelling of the legs, caring for burns, eye irritation, dysentery, migraine, and vertigo

indigestion, wounds, ulcers,

Treating stomach pain, itching, arthritis, burns, gonorrhea, arthritis, ulcers, Treat skin diseases, arthritis, sciatica, eye

Treating internal hemorrhage

Treat wounds, leprosy, neurological diseases, burns

irritation

inophyllolide; inophyllum B, C, P, and E; jacareubin; (+)-calanolide A; inocalophyllins A and B; calophynone; calophyllumin C; inophyllin A; and others. Su et al. [9] mentioned that according to Filho et al. [10], in various parts of the tree, C. inophyllum contains phytochemicals, including xanthones, coumarins, chromanones (flavonoids, biflavonoids), triterpenes, tripenoids, and steroids. Coumarins in *C. inophyllum* contain two components, namely, calanolides A and B. From these studies it was found that coumarin compounds in *C. inophyllum* may be effective in

According to Lim [11], at least nine components have been isolated from the leaves of *C. inophyllum*, including 2-hydroxyxanthone; 4-hydroxyxanthone; 1,5-dihydroxyxanthone; 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone; 1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone; 6-6-deoxyjacaerubin; flavonoids, amentoflavone; kaempferol-3-O-α-L-

Of the three studies on the leaves above, there are some differences as well as questions obtained from the leaves of *C. inophyllum* content analysis. Some of the same compounds that have been isolated from *C. inophyllum* plants are quite diverse, including derivatives of xanthones [12, 13], coumarins [9], flavonoids [13],

Xanthones are polyphenol components in nature with molecular formula C13H8O2. They consist of bonding of two benzene rings connected by a carbonyl group and one oxygen. These conjugated ring systems inhibit the free rotation carbon bond. Xanthones have a basic framework consisting of 13 carbon atoms that

Xanthones are compounds with the basic framework of two phenyls connected by bridges carbonyl and oxygen (ether). Their biosynthesis is not known clearly but allegedly still in close contact with the biosynthesis of flavonoids and stilbenoid. It can be seen from the type of oxygenation and two types of aromatic rings which are derived from the shikimate (shikimic acid) and the acetate-

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86991*

**Medicinal function**

Leaves Inhibit the growth of larvae of *Culex quinquefasciatus* and *Aedes aegypti*, an inhibitor of the HIV virus

> Inhibit the growth of larvae of *Culex quinquefasciatus*, antimicrobial compounds, and toxic agents

**Part of crops**

Fruit/ seed

**Table 1.**

treating cancer and inhibiting the HIV virus.

*Benefits and uses of C. inophyllum crops.*

rhamnoside; and quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside.

make up the composition of C6-C1-C6 (**Figure 2**).

benzodipyranones [14], triterpenoids [12, 15], and steroids [9].

**2. Identification of phytochemicals in** *C. inophyllum* **leaves**

**Figure 1.** *Parts of C. inophyllum crop.*


#### **Table 1.**

*Phytochemicals in Human Health*

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Super division: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: *Dilleniidae* Order: *Theales* Family: Clusiaceae

crops obtained from previous works.

As for exotic species (endemic to a region), it can be found in the state of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and the USA. *C. inophyllum* plant spreads almost evenly throughout Indonesia, such as in the island of Sumatra (West Sumatra, Riau, Kepulauan Riau, Lampung, and Bangka Belitung), Java (Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java), Bali Island, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan (West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan), Sulawesi (North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi), Maluku and North Maluku Islands, and Papua [3]. *C. inophyllum* plant has a taxonomy as follows [4]:

*C. inophyllum* is a plant that is grown in the earthy sand and coastal areas with a hot weather [5]. It can also grow well at an altitude of 0–800 meters above sea level such as in forests, mountains, and swamps [6]. *C. inophyllum* is a versatile crop; all parts of this plant, such as leaves, root, and fruit (**Figure 1**), can be useful for humans. The benefit of its tree, bark, and seed is as plant conservation, source of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and vegetable oil, respectively [7]. In pharmaceuticals, it is known to function as an antibacterial, anticancer, antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antipsychotics, antiviral, photoprotective, molluscicidal, and piscicidal agent [1]. **Table 1** shows the benefits of *C. inophyllum*

Because all parts of this plant can be useful in treating various diseases, some researchers have conducted further research on the phytochemical content of this plant. According to Ling et al. [1], the compounds which are contained in these plants include inophynone; canophyllol; canophyllic acid; calophyllolide;

**28**

**Figure 1.**

*Parts of C. inophyllum crop.*

*Benefits and uses of C. inophyllum crops.*

inophyllolide; inophyllum B, C, P, and E; jacareubin; (+)-calanolide A; inocalophyllins A and B; calophynone; calophyllumin C; inophyllin A; and others. Su et al. [9] mentioned that according to Filho et al. [10], in various parts of the tree, C. inophyllum contains phytochemicals, including xanthones, coumarins, chromanones (flavonoids, biflavonoids), triterpenes, tripenoids, and steroids. Coumarins in *C. inophyllum* contain two components, namely, calanolides A and B. From these studies it was found that coumarin compounds in *C. inophyllum* may be effective in treating cancer and inhibiting the HIV virus.

According to Lim [11], at least nine components have been isolated from the leaves of *C. inophyllum*, including 2-hydroxyxanthone; 4-hydroxyxanthone; 1,5-dihydroxyxanthone; 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone; 1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone; 6-6-deoxyjacaerubin; flavonoids, amentoflavone; kaempferol-3-O-α-Lrhamnoside; and quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside.

Of the three studies on the leaves above, there are some differences as well as questions obtained from the leaves of *C. inophyllum* content analysis. Some of the same compounds that have been isolated from *C. inophyllum* plants are quite diverse, including derivatives of xanthones [12, 13], coumarins [9], flavonoids [13], benzodipyranones [14], triterpenoids [12, 15], and steroids [9].
