Phytochemical Profile and Bioactivity of Memaye (Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr) Leaves: A Medicinal Plant of the Besemah Tribe in Lahat, South Sumatra, Indonesia
1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Sriwijaya, South Sumatra, Indonesia.
2 Program Study of Biology, Fac. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Sriwijaya, South Sumatra, Indonesia.
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Biology and Pharmacy, 2025, 15(02), 037-043.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjbp.2025.15.2.0051
Publication history:
Received 04 November 2025; revised on 12 December 2025; accepted on 15 December 2025
Abstract:
The Memaye plant or Bandicoot berry (Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr) is traditionally used by the Besemah tribe in Lahat, South Sumatra, Indonesia, to treat various ailments. The leaves of Memaye are rich in metabolites that have potential applications in treating infections and degenerative diseases. This study aims to determine the phytochemical profile and assess the bioactivity of the ethanol extract of Memaye leaves. Phytochemical profiling was performed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), while the exploration of bioactivity and biosynthesis pathways was based on various online resources. The phytochemical profile identified several dominant compounds, including Formamide, N,N-dimethyl; Mesitylene; Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester; Supraene or Squalene; 16-Heptadecenal; Imidazole-2-hydrazide-1-carboxylic acid, methyl ester; Phenethylamine, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-.α.-methyl; and Acetic acid, [(aminocarbonyl)amino] oxo. These compounds exhibit potential antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Further investigation highlighted certain compounds with anti-infective activity, such as Acetic acid and Mesitylene, as well as compounds with anti-degenerative properties, including Supraene. The compounds noted for their anti-infective and anti-degenerative activities include Formamide, N,N-dimethyl; 16-Heptadecenal; Phenethylamine, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-.α-methyl; Imidazole-2-hydrazide-1-carboxylic acid; and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester. The phytochemical analysis reveals the significant potential of Memaye leaves as a source of bioactive compounds that could be developed into therapies for anti-infective and anti-degenerative treatments.
Keywords:
Anti-infective; anti-degenerative; bioactivity; Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr; GC-MS; Besemah tribe
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