NATURAL PRODUCT DISCOVERY FROM THE MALAYAN FLORA: RECENT INSIGHTS INTO ESSENTIAL OILS AND SECONDARY METABOLITES
Abstract
The Malayan flora continues to yield new phytochemical insights, particularly through the study of essential oils and metabolites from Knema (Myristicaceae), Beilschmiedia (Lauraceae), and Syzygium (Myrtaceae). Recent investigations integrating GC-FID/GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and NMR analyses reveal distinctive volatile chemotypes and bioactive scaffolds across these genera. Knema species display sesquiterpene-dominant oils rich in β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and germacrene D, complemented by lignans and neolignans with antibacterial, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. Beilschmiedia oils show mixed mono- and sesquiterpene profiles, notably α-pinene, linalool, and bicyclogermacrene, while their non-volatile extracts yield aporphine alkaloids and neolignans with potent α-glucosidase and lipoxygenase inhibition, suggesting therapeutic potential for metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Meanwhile, Syzygium species demonstrate broad chemical variability, from eugenol and methyl eugenol to 1,8-cineole and (E)-caryophyllene, coupled with rich flavonoid and ellagitannin contents in polar fractions that underpin strong antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant effects. Modern dereplication and molecular networking approaches, particularly GNPS-based molecular mapping and multivariate chemometrics (PCA/HCA), have accelerated the recognition of genus-specific scaffolds and chemotaxonomic relationships. Collectively, these findings highlight the synergistic chemical diversity and biological potential of the selected Malayan taxa, offering valuable leads for bioprospecting and structure–activity exploration in drug discovery.
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