Forty-four endophytes were isolated from Zingiber cassumunar and identified morphologically. The ethyl acetate extracts of all endophytes were obtained. The ethyl acetate extracts were subjected to study antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The ethyl acetate extract of the Arthrinium sp. MFLUCC16-1053 showed activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Specifically, the minimum inhibition concentration against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was 31.25 and 7.81 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, the crude extract showed highest antioxidant activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging at IC50 value of 28.47 µg/mL. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the extract of the Arthrinium sp. MFLUCC16-1053 contains various antibacterial and antioxidant compounds which are β-cyclocitral, 3E-cembrene A, laurenan-2-one, sclareol, 2Z,6E-farnesol, cembrene, β-isocomene and γ-curcumene. The fungus Arthrinium sp. MFLUCC16-1053 was also identified by molecular and phylogenetic methods.

Five new xanthones, garciniacowones A-E (1-5), together with 14 known xanthones, 6-19, were isolated from the young fruits and fresh flowers of Garcinia cowa. The structures of 1-5 were elucidated by analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and mass spectrometric data. The compounds 1-19 were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity and for their ability to inhibit α-glucosidase. Compounds 16 and 17 showed the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 7.8 ± 0.5 and 8.7 ± 0.3 μM, respectively. Compounds 8, 9, and 19 showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis TISTR 088 with identical MIC values of 2 μg/mL, while 8, 10, and 19 exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus TISTR 688 with identical MIC values of 4 μg/mL.

Vermelhotin exhibited potential anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of nitric oxide production (IC₅₀ = 5.35 ± 0.59 μM) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Vermelhotin suppressed expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) at mRNA and protein levels, in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies revealed that vermelhotin abrogated upstream signaling of iNOS expression by selectively inhibiting p38 phosphorylation, while ERK and JNK activations were not affected.

The biflavonoid, 3'',4',4''',5,5'',7,7''-heptahydroxy-3,8-biflavanone, known as GB1 (1), was isolated as a major constituent from Garcinia kola stem bark. GB1 (1) exhibited alpha-glucosidase and aromatase inhibitory activities, as well as antiplasmodial activity, but was not toxic against cell lines tested. GB1 (1) may be a potential dietary supplement or phytomedicine for the prevention of breast cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus.