Sains Malaysiana 51(1)(2022): 199-208

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5101-16

Deciphering Synsepalum dulcificum as an Arising Phytotherapy Agent: Background, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties with Associated Molecular Mechanisms

(Mentafsir Synsepalum dulcificum sebagai Agen Fitoterapi yang semakin Meningkat: Latar Belakang, Sifat Fitokimia dan Farmakologi dengan Mekanisme Molekul Berkaitan)

JIA WER EE¹, APPALARAJU VELAGA¹, RHANYE MAC GUAD², VETRISELVAN SUBRAMANIYAN³, NEERAJ KUMAR FULORIA⁴, SHIVKANYA FULORIA⁴, KER WOON CHOY⁵ & YUAN SENG WU^6,7*

¹Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, MAHSA University, 42610 Jenjarom, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Biomedical Science and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

³Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, 42610 Jenjarom, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁴Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, 08100 Bedang, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia

⁵Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁶Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁷Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 25 November 2020/Accepted: 19 May 2021

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants with less side effects are paramount important for humankind to cure various ailments as compared to newly developed allopathic medicines. Synsepalum dulcificum Daniell, (Sapotaceae), is well known as miracle fruits due to its distinctive taste-modifying property. This review aimed to discuss its recent reported pharmacological properties and associated molecular mechanisms as a novel phytotherapy agent. In addition, background, phytochemical analysis and toxicological studies were also discussed as the foundation and added values for this review. It was discovered that S. dulcificum is endowed with various classes of phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponins. This review ravelled that S. dulcificum is a potent medicinal plant associated with antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-hyperuricemic, hepatoprotective, anti-hyperlipidaemic, and anticonvulsant activities, with less toxicity shown. Future research may explore further the corresponding phytochemicals, associated molecular mechanisms, toxicological and pharmacokinetic profile before subjecting to clinical testing.

Keywords: Miracle fruit; molecular mechanism; phytotherapy agent; Synsepalum dulcificum; therapeutic activity

ABSTRAK

Tumbuhan perubatan sangat penting bagi manusia untuk menyembuhkan pelbagai penyakit berbanding dengan ubat aloi yang baru dikembangkan kerana ia lebih selamat dengan kesan sampingan yang lebih rendah. Synsepalum dulcificum Daniell, (Sapotaceae), terkenal sebagai buah ajaib kerana sifatnya yang mengubah rasa. Ulasan ini bertujuan untuk meninjau dan menguraikan sifat farmakologi yang dilaporkan baru-baru ini dan mekanisme molekul yang berkaitan sebagai agen fitoterapi baru. Selain itu, latar belakang, analisis fitokimia dan kajian toksikologi juga dibincangkan sebagai asas dan nilai tambah untuk ulasan ini. S. dulcificum didapati dikurniakan pelbagai kelas fitokimia, seperti flavonoid, tanin, alkaloid dan saponin. Ulasan ini membuktikan bahawa S. dulcificum adalah tumbuhan perubatan kuat yang memiliki aktiviti antioksidan, antidiabetik, antimikrob, antikanser, anti-hiperurikemia, hepatopelindung, anti-hiperlipidemia dan antikonvulsan dengan ketoksikan yang kurang ditunjukkan. Penyelidikan masa depan boleh mengkaji fitokimia, mekanisme molekul yang berkaitan, profil toksikologi dan farmakokinetik sebelum menjalani ujian klinikal.

Kata kunci: Agen fitoterapi; aktiviti terapi; buah keajaiban; mekanisme molekul; Synsepalum dulcificum

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*Corresponding author; email: sengwu_21@yahoo.com