Investigation of Anticancer Agents from the Bark of Gyrinops Versteegii (Gilg.) Domke from Lombok Island

Abstract

This study is part of a research collaboration between Kyoto University and The University of Mataram, aiming to identify and to utilize the agarwood plants, i.e., Gyrinops versteegii from Indonesia. The study, specifically, aims to discover anticancer agents from the bark of G. versteegii from Lombok Island of Indonesia. There were three provenances of G. versteegii observed, namely Soyun, Pantai, and Buaya. Based on the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT), G. versteegii Buaya showed the highest cytotoxicity with LC50 45,94 µg/ml. Meanwhile, G. versteegii Soyun and Pantai have LC50 75.86 µg/mL and 56.36 µg/mL respectively. A phytochemical study showed that the methanol extract of G. versteegii Buaya containing compounds from the group of alkaloid, flavonoid, steroid, triterpenoid, and saponin. The methanol extracts fractionated using Vacuum Liquid Chromatography into 10 fractions (F1-F10) and then retested BSLT. Among the fractions, F2 showed the best potency as an anticancer with LC50 64,12 µg/mL. Based on the GC-MS analysis, the cytotoxicity from both methanol extract and F2 is predicted to be influenced by the same compounds, namely, 1,4-Benzenediol,2-methyl, Pyridoxylamine, 2,3-Dimethylhydroquionone, Tetramethyl-p-benzoquinone, and Benzofuran. Overall, the bark of G. versteegii from Lombok Island has great potency as an anticancer.