Since ancient times, the sustained use of Aleurites moluccana in folk medicine has been described verbally and in written manuscripts as a part of local wisdom. Diverse cultures across the world have traditionally used multiple portions of these plants to cure various illnesses, including headaches, fever, asthma, injuries, stomach ulcers, and tumors. Recent scientific discoveries provide insight on the chemical and biological basis for this species’ broad medicinal application. According to data from Google Scholar, Science Direct, ProQuest, Scopus, and PubMed, at least 34 compounds have successfully been purified and characterized from A. moluccana over the last several decades, consisting of coumarinolignoid, C-glycosyl-flavone, phorbol diester, sterol, diterpene, triterpene, coumarin, and aliphatic hydrocarbon derivatives. Additionally, extracts and secondary metabolites from this species exhibited interesting biological properties, including antibacterial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive effects. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first concise review covering current reports on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and biological activity of A. moluccana.
Key words: Aleurites moluccana, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activity, secondary metabolite, local wisdom
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