Mallotus species from Vietnamese mountainous areas:
phytochemistry and pharmacological activities

C. Rivière • V. Nguyen Thi Hong • Q. Tran Hong • G. Chataigne´ •
N. Nguyen Hoai • B. Dejaegher • C. Tistaert • T. Nguyen Thi Kim •
Y. Vander Heyden • M. Chau Van • J. Quetin-Leclercq

Phytochem Rev (2010) 9:217–253
DOI 10.1007/s11101-009-9152-6

Abstract The genus Mallotus belongs to Malphighiales order and Euphorbiaceae family. Mallotus, commonly
known as ‘‘Ba bet’’ in Vietnam, is one of the most diverse and richest genera of the Euphorbiaceae
family in Vietnam, where about 40 Mallotus species may be found. Some Mallotus species are used in
traditional medicine in Vietnam for different indications. They are concentrated in mountainous areas with
an altitude below 1,000 m, but some species can grow at an altitude of 2,000 m, such as Mallotus oreophilus
Mu¨ll. Arg. Some Mallotus species are known to contain different natural compounds, mainly diterpenoids,
triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, coumarinolignoids, phloroglucinol derivatives or benzopyrans,
and to exhibit interesting biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, or cytototoxic
ones. Some of these properties may be explained by their chemical composition as, for example, benzopyrans
accounting for the cytotoxicity of Mallotus apelta extracts. However, although these species seem to have
a great medicinal potential, the existing knowledge about most Mallotus species is still in most cases very
limited. This review underlines the interest to continue the study of this genus of the Euphorbiaceae.

Keywords: Mallotus - Euphorbiaceae - Vietnam - Natural compounds - Biological activities