Bioactivity Investigation of Lauraceae Trees Grown in Taiwan

Abstract

This research collected 27 Lauraceae tree species in Taiwan, and the extracts prepared from leaves and branches were selected to evaluate and characterize their putative bioactivities and potential medicinal applications. Several bioactivity assays, including antifungal tests, antioxidant evaluation, anti-inflammation activity, and cytotoxicity were preformed in this study.The results showed no significant antifungal activity by Lauraceae extracts. Neolitsea parvigemma. (Hay.) Kanehira et Sasaki expresses the best antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 5.73 µg/mL) in the DPPH assay.The extracts of Litsea akoensis. Hay. and Cryptocarya concinna. Hance had significant anti-inflammation activity, and they can inhibit the nitric oxide (NO) production in the LPS-induced microphage assay at the dose of 25 µg/mL. According to the cytotoxicity assay, Lindera aggregate. (Sims) Kosterm and Cryptocarya concinna. Hance extracts showed in vitro. cytotoxicity against human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (HUVEC) with IC₅₀ values of 43.15 µg/mL and 49.36 µg/mL, respectively, and Phoebe formosana. (Matsum. et Hay.) Hay. extract exhibited marked cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 42.87 µg/mL) against a human leukemia cell line (HL-60). Results from this preliminary investigation suggest that these Lauraceae tree species may have a great potential for further development as cancer chemoprevention agents or food supplements for promoting human health.