Phytochemical profiling and biomedical applications of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq.: In vitro and in silico approaches

Medicinal plants have garnered considerable interest from the pharmaceutical industry because of their diverse structures and wide array of therapeutic effects. Herbal medicines have gained popularity in recent years, as they offer cost-effective solutions and are proven safe and more effective than synthetic drugs. Cat whiskers or java tea is botanically known as Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq., belongs to the Lamiaceae family, and is a traditional herb with medicinal properties, commonly found in Southeast Asian countries. It is used as a diuretic and can also treat urinary dysfunctions and other ailments, such as rheumatism. Java tea is shade tolerant and suitable for intercropping with rubber plantations. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemicals present in O.aristatus under open and intercropped conditions via gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and to explore biomedical applications by in vitro and in silico approaches. The results revealed that flavonoids, steroids, and monoterpenoids were present, and novel compounds with medicinal properties were identified when the plants were intercropped with rubber rather than when they were grown in open fields. This study paves the way for the development of herbal medicines from O. aristatus to treat various ailments, as well as the potential for the green synthesis of nanoparticles due to their rich array of bioactive compounds, which are recommended for intercropping with tappable rubber plantations.