Kayea assamica
Kayea assamica · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (1 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Kayea assamica is a botanical species that has garnered significant scientific interest due to its potential anticancer activities. Research involving the plant's flowers and bark has led to the successful preparation of a 70% EtOH extract and a CHCl3-soluble fraction. These preparations are rich in specific bioactive compounds, most notably 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone, 2-hydroxyxanthone, and 5-hydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone. The presence of these xanthone derivatives suggests a strong chemical basis for the plant's therapeutic properties. Consequently, investigating these chemical constituents provides a pathway for developing new pharmacological treatments.
- Synonyms
- Mesua Assamica · Vatica Imbricata
- Common names
- Not available
- Family
- Calophyllaceae
- Distribution
- Not available
- Plant Parts
- Flower
Classification
Synonyms
Kayea assamica is a botanical species that is often identified through various taxonomic classifications. Within scientific literature, this plant is recognized by the synonym Mesua assamica. Furthermore, researchers may encounter it listed under the alternative name Vatica imbricata. These overlapping designations highlight the complex nature of botanical nomenclature and historical naming conventions. Understanding these relationships is essential for anyone studying the diverse lineage of this particular plant.
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Taxonomy
Kayea assamica is a distinctive member of the kingdom Plantae. This botanical species is classified under the class Equisetopsida and belongs to the order Malpighiales. Within this order, it is further categorized into the family Calophyllaceae. It is uniquely identified by its placement within the genus Kayea. Understanding these hierarchical relationships provides essential insight into the plant's biological identity.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Family | Calophyllaceae |
| Genus | Kayea |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
Geographic Regions
Kayea assamica is a botanical species with a broad geographical reach across the tropical regions of Asia. Its natural distribution begins in the Indian Subcontinent, where it is specifically found within the Assam region. The plant also extends its range into Indo-China, establishing a presence throughout Myanmar. Furthermore, its habitat encompasses parts of Malesia, including the area known as Malaya. This wide dispersal highlights the plant's ability to thrive in diverse tropical ecosystems across the continent.
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Identification
Morphology
Kayea assamica is a self-supporting plant that typically adopts a tree-like growth form. This species is capable of reaching impressive dimensions in the wild. Specifically, it can achieve a maximum height of up to 23 meters.
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Biological Activities
Kayea assamica has demonstrated significant anticancer potential through the isolation of unique chemical compounds from its flowers. Researchers identified several novel coumarins, known as kayeassamins, which exhibit potent activity against human pancreatic cancer cells. Specifically, a fraction of the plant extract showed 100% preferential cytotoxicity against PANC-1 cells under nutrient-deprived conditions. The study found that certain isolates, such as kayeassamins A, B, D, E, and G, induced apoptosis-like changes in these cancer cells within just 24 hours. These findings establish important structure-activity relationships that highlight the plant's promise in developing new anti-austerity cancer treatments.
Compounds
Kayea assamica is a member of the Clusiaceae family that is native to the region of Myanmar. Scientific investigations into the bark of this plant have led to the successful isolation of several biologically active compounds. Specifically, researchers identified the presence of the xanthone 2-hydroxyxanthone within its chemical profile. Furthermore, the plant was found to contain 5-hydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone among its various secondary metabolites. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the diverse chemical constituents found in this species.
Conditions
Kayea assamica contains bioactive compounds that demonstrate significant therapeutic potential against various human cancer cell lines. Specifically, its derivatives exhibit good cytotoxicity against Col2, KB, and LNCaP cells. The plant also shows effectiveness against PANC-1 cells, particularly through the induction of apoptosis-like morphological changes. Beyond its anticancer properties, the coumarins isolated from the species also exhibit mild antimalarial activities. These diverse biological activities highlight the medicinal importance of the chemical constituents found within the plant.
Preparations
Kayea assamica is prepared as a 70% EtOH extract to facilitate the isolation of bioactive compounds from its flowers. This 70% EtOH extract is further processed into a CHCl3-soluble fraction to study its preferential cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cells. Additionally, the plant is prepared as bark for the isolation of biologically active alkylated coumarins and xanthones. These specific preparation methods, including the use of the CHCl3-soluble fraction, allow researchers to identify potent anticancer agents. Ultimately, the various preparations of Kayea assamica, whether as bark or through specialized solvent extractions, serve to reveal its diverse chemical properties.
Parts used
Kayea assamica is a botanical species native to Myanmar that offers significant potential for pharmacological research. Recent studies have focused specifically on the chemical properties found within the part flower of this plant. Researchers successfully isolated several novel anticancer agents, known as kayeassamins C-I, from these floral extracts. These specific compounds demonstrated remarkable preferential cytotoxicity against human pancreatic cancer cells, particularly under nutrient-deprived conditions. This discovery highlights how the unique components of the flower may contribute to the development of innovative anti-austerity cancer therapies.