Aromatic and Steroid Compounds from Smilax Bracteata C. Presl. (Smilacaceae), a Bornean Medicinal Herb

The medicinal herb, Smilax bracteata C. Presl. is a monocotyledon species in the family of Smilacaceae. There are about 261 species and 240 infraspecific species (IPNI, 2015) which are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with some herbaceous species extending their range into the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia. The greatest diversity is found in eastern Asia. In Indo-China 27 species have been found, in Thailand 24 species, and the number of species is probably slightly less in Malaysia [1]. In Sabah, S. bracteata grows commonly at forest fringes from sea level up to 900 m above sea level. This plant is listed one of the 1,300 medicinal herbs in Sabah [2]. This plant was known as Tongkung by Dusun people in Sabah and it was a common practice for local people to reduce blood pressure using this herb [3]. According to [4] this plant was used to cure depurative, dysmenorrhea, rheumatism, skin and syphilis in East Malaysia. However, only a few studies on their chemical compositions were conducted. Previously, this genus Smilax was known to contain saponin and phenolic compounds as their major metabolites [5]. Therefore, we report the phytochemical analysis of S. bracteata and this is the first record for Malaysia’s specimen.