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This book entails M.Phil dissertation of Mr. Jayson Samuel Wau supervised by Mr. Dy Timi, Dr. Ah Harakuwe, Dr. Hw Sakulas and Mrs. Rg Sipou. The study was done in collaboration with Assoc. Prof Bf Bowden (JCU-Australia) and Dr C Mottie (AIMS). Products from medicinal plants, either as pure isolates, oral extracts or as topical therapy provide unlimited opportunities for new drug leads. Papua New Guinea is an active participant in the Increasing studies on traditional medicinal plants. This study originates from the reports the fruit latex of Ficus botryocarpa Miq (MORACEAE) is used to treat superficial skin infections in Wosera, East Sepik Province. Recent screening proved that the latex constitutes bioactive alkaloids. In attempt to identify the active constituents three phenathroindolizidine alkaloids were identified for the first time. With consistent data it was likely that all three compounds are ficuseptine bearing different anionic components, highly polar and appears to be an emulsifying agent. Beta and alpha amyrin acetate plus lupeol acetate were additionally isolated from the stem bark.

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