"I found the Kuwanon J compound in the mulberry plant (Morus shalun), which shows potential as an anti-cervical cancer agent," said Dr. Rahmat Kurniawan, a lecturer in the Chemistry Study Program and a member of the Biological Chemistry Research Group at the university’s Faculty of Science.
Kurniawan explained that Kuwanon J is a Diels-Alder adduct, formed through a biotransformation process involving the Diels-Alderase enzyme.
Initial laboratory tests have shown that the compound exhibits cytotoxic activity against cervical cancer cells, meaning it may be able to kill or inhibit them.
"This research used a combination of plant, fungal, and bacterial tissue culture techniques to extract bioactive compounds," he said.
He also noted that mulberry plants produce unique phenolic compounds with isoprenyl chains, which act as precursors in forming the cyclohexene methyl ring found in the Kuwanon J compound.
Mulberry plants, part of the Moraceae family, are widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, including Indonesia and Central Asia.
In addition to his work on mulberry, Kurniawan has studied several other natural compounds with potential anti-cancer properties, including paclitaxel from mountain cypress (Taxus sumatrana), phytosterol compounds from mangrove oil (Rhizophora apiculata), amyrin from bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus), and lapachol from Tabebuya (Tabebuia aurea).
"The importance of using local biodiversity for drug discovery cannot be overstated. Natural compounds generally offer a better safety profile with fewer side effects than synthetic drugs," he emphasized.
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Translator: Dian Hadiyatna, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Anton Santoso
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