Cancer remains the second leading cause of mortality in the Philippines, underscoring the urgent need for novel and effective therapeutic agents. In recent years, natural plant-derived compounds have gained increasing attention due to their diverse bioactive properties and potential in drug discovery. Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng., commonly known as Bignay, is a tropical plant widely distributed in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, and has been traditionally utilized for its medicinal and nutritional value. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition of the ethanolic root extract of A. bunius and assess its anti-angiogenic activity using a duck embryo model. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the root extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenolics, saponins, steroids, and terpenoids, classes of compounds known to exhibit various biological activities, including modulation of angiogenic processes. A total of 25 fertilized duck eggs were allocated into five treatment groups. Following incubation, the embryos were harvested, documented, and analyzed using ImageJ software to quantify vascular development. Results demonstrated a marked reduction in blood vessel formation in extract-treated groups compared to the negative control (distilled water) and the positive control (simvastatin), indicating a significant anti-angiogenic effect. These findings suggest that the ethanolic root extract of A. bunius possesses promising anti-angiogenic properties, highlighting its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications in conditions characterized by abnormal vascular proliferation, such as cancer. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the active constituents and the underlying molecular mechanisms of action.
Geyrozaga et al. (Sun,) studied this question.