Lay summary
The overall objective of this summer project is to use a range of analytical techniques to chemically profile selected Samoan medicinal plants, and then to isolate bioactive compounds. This work is important not only in discovering new bioactive agents for treating diseases, but also in improving awareness of the efficacy and, more importantly, the safety of Samoan medicinal plants. The studies involved in this project have the potential to contribute to Samoa’s economy through the generation of value-added products, such as plant-based health products, environmentally friendly pesticides, or growth regulators. A range of techniques are employed to get the best possible representation of the chemical composition of an extract before targeting compounds for isolation.