Background: Ficus deltoidea(Moraceae), is a Malay Traditional Medicine locally known as Mas Cotek. Three varieties (angustifolia, deltoidea and kunslerii) has been indictincty used. Aims
We here aim to better understand their chemistry and bioactivities to inform future scientific and agronomic research. Methods: We extracted and analyzed (HPTLC and HPLC-UV) samples from these varieties. The in vitro screening included the scavenging of DPPH and NO radicals, activity upon tyrosinase and cytotoxicity against three human prostate cancer cells (PC3, DU145 and LNCaP)using the sulforhodamine B proliferation assay and the MTT mitochondrial viability assay.
Results : We show that vitexin, orientin and isoorientin may act as intraspecific and interorgan phytomarkers The biological activities of the extracts point out to the antioxidant value of extracts from the deltoidea and kunslerii varieties whilst the inhibition of tyrosinase is only present in the root extract of the var. deltoidea which is also endowed with cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer cells.
Conclusion: We suggest that the three Malaysian Ficus deltoideabotanical varieties (angustifolia, deltoideaand kunslerii) can be considered chemovars. The most active extract was from the roots of var. deltoids that show antioxidant, antimelanogenic and cytotoxic potential
