ABSTRACT
The family Rhizophoraceae consists of approximately 14 genera and 100 species of tropical trees that are often of mangrove habit. There have been a few studies on the pharmacological properties of Rhizophoraceae, and this little body of evidence lends support to the interesting fact that Rhizophoraceae have anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus potential. Bruguiera sexangula Poir. is a tree that grows up to 33m in height with a girth of 180cm in the mangroves, from Sri Lanka to Papua New Guinea. The bole is buttressed and shows stilt roots. The bark is pale with 2.5cm-diameter lenticels. The stem is rough with scars of leaves, 5mm in diameter. This plant is known in Malaysia as mata buaya or tumu puteh and the fruits are used externally to treat shingles, whereas the roots and leaves are used to treat burns.
