Chemical Compounds and Pharmaceutical Properties of Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa: A Traditional Medicinal Herb from South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa is an herbal plant that grows in Indonesia, especially in South Kalimantan, with the local name Karamunting. More than 100 compounds have been identified from the leaves, stems, buds, barks, roots, fruits, aerial parts, and flowers of this plant. Phloroglucinols, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthracene glycosides, tannins, and lipids are the groups of compounds that have been identified. The pharmacological and biological effects of extracts or isolated compounds from these plants are known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, antimalarial, antiviral, antifungal, and other activities. Rhodomyrtone is a bioactive compound from the phloroglucinols group, which is the most widely isolated and has several bioactivities as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cytotoxic, and antidepressant agent. Leaf ethanol extract is the most frequently studied extract and has bioactivity as an antibacterial, biocontrol, antioxidant, and cytotoxic agent.