AZADIRACHTA INDICA (SEMAMBU) IN TRADITIONAL MALAY MEDICAL MANUSCRIPTS AND ASSESSMENT OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS

AZADIRACHTA INDICA (SEMAMBU) DALAM MANUSKRIP PERUBATAN MELAYU DAN PENILAIAN BERDASARKAN KANDUNGAN BIOAKTIF

Abstract

Abstract

Azadirachta indica (neem) is an Asia native plant from Meliaceae family, which has been recognized for its pharmaceutical potential for ages and contain numerous bioactive phytochemicals with therapeutic potential. This research aims to examine the ethnomedicinal plants that have been recorded in transliterated manuscripts and to discover the bioactive compounds. For methodology, secondary data were obtained from five selected Malay medical books. The experimental design involved two extraction methods, namely water extraction and sequential alkaline extraction. The data was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The findings from the Malay medical manuscript indicate that most diseases were physical illnesses. The total phenolic content of A. indica was 779.89 ± 12.32 µg GAE/g DW, and the phenolic acids detected by HPLC in both extractions were Vanillic acid, trans-p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that A. indica has a huge potential for further exploration in pharmaceuticals.

Keywords: Azadirachta indica, Malay medical manuscript, ethnomedicine, phenolic compound, antibacterial activities, ethnoscience.

Abstrak

Azadirachta indica (neem) ialah tumbuhan asli Asia daripada keluarga Meliaceae, yang telah diiktiraf bagi potensi farmaseutikalnya sejak sekian lama dan mengandungi banyak fitokimia bioaktif dengan potensi terapeutik. Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji tumbuhan etnoperubatan yang telah direkodkan dalam manuskrip secara transliterasi dan untuk menemui sebatian bioaktif. Bagi metodologi, data sekunder diperoleh daripada lima buah buku perubatan Melayu terpilih. Reka bentuk eksperimen melibatkan dua kaedah pengekstrakan iaitu pengekstrakan air dan pengekstrakan alkali berjujukan. Data telah dianalisis secara kualitatif dan kuantitatif oleh Jumlah Kandungan Fenolik (TPC), dan Kromatografi Cecair Berprestasi Tinggi (HPLC). Dapatan daripada manuskrip perubatan Melayu menunjukkan kebanyakan penyakit adalah penyakit fizikal. Jumlah kandungan fenolik A. indica ialah 779.89 ± 12.32 µg GAE/g DW, dan asid fenolik yang dikesan oleh HPLC dalam kedua-dua pengekstrakan ialah asid Vanilik, asid trans-p-kuumarik, dan asid ferulik. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa A. indica mempunyai potensi besar untuk penerokaan lanjut dalam farmaseutikal.

Kata Kunci: Azadirachta indica, manuskrip perubatan Melayu, etnoperubatan, sebatian fenolik, aktiviti antibaktaria, etnosains