Identification of anticancer compounds in leaves extracts of agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis (Lamk.))

Cancer is still become the main causes of death in the world. The leaves of Aquilaria malaccensis have an antioxidant and cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines. It can be developed as an alternative medicine. However, comprehensive information about the database of metabolites in A. malaccensis leaves is not yet available. This study aimed to screen the metabolites of chloroform and ethanol extracts of A. malaccensis, which has been reported in the database as an anticancer. Determination of metabolites contained in both chloroform and ethanol extracts were conducted using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS analysis detected nine metabolites in the chloroform extract while twenty one metabolites in the ethanol extract. The most common compounds observed was fatty acids and terpenoids. Among those detected, metabolites that have potential as anticancer in the chloroform extracts were 9-Hexadecanoic acid and Tetracosanoic acid. While in the ethanol extracts include 2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl; 3,6-Octadecadiynoic acid, 3-Octadecyne, Lauric acid, Myristic acid, Nonadecanoic acid, Oleic Acid, Phytol, Loliolide dan Squalene. Further analysis to confirm which compounds most responsible for the anticancer activity in the A. malaccensis extract is planned as the next steps of this study. © 2020 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.