• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.86-89
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• 1996

Methanolic extracts of 25 species of Malaysian medicinal plants were screened for platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor binding activity using rabbit platelet. Extracts of Cinnamomum sintoc, Ixonanthes iconsandra, Paederia foetida, Piper aduncum, Premna integrifolia, Ardisia crispa, and Ardisia elliptica showed significant inhibitory effect on the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor binding.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.131-134
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• 2000

The methanol, dichloromethane, petroleum ether, 90% methanol and 1-butanol fractions of 40 Malaysian medicinal plants belonging to 25 families were tested for brine shrimp lethality. Various parts and fractions of eight (20%) plants, viz. Annona muricata, Cerbera odollam. Calophyllum inophyllum, Entada phaseoloides, Pithecellobium jiringa, Crotolaria retusa, Morinda elliptica and Sellaginella willdenovii showed very strong toxicity $(LC_{50}:$<$100\;ppm)$. The methanol extract of the seed of Calophyllum inophyllum showed exceptionally toxic activity $(LC_{50}:$<$5\;ppm)$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 1995

One hundred plants in 43 families used in Malaysian traditional medicine were screened for tumour promoting activity using two methods, the technique of activation of latent Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in Raji cells and the irritation test on mouse ear. Extracts of only eight plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae were found to possess EBV activation factor and to give a positive irritation test in mouse ear. These plants included Euphorbia tirucalli L., E. splendes, Jatropha podagrica, J. gossypyfolia L., Pedilanihus tithymaloides (L.) Poitt., Croton argyratus Bl., Exocoecaria agallocha L. and Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Bl. Seven of these plants are used internally in Malaysian traditional medicine. As such, they pose potential danger in the promotion of initiated cells of the mucosal tissue towards disease. Further studies are required to assess the epidemiological impact of these plants in the development of disease.