The root of M. whitei has been shown to harbor polyphenols
(such as flavonoids and tannins) coumarinolignans
aromatic volatile compounds such as 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde
and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (isovanillin)
and a glycoside of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde So far, only two compounds
present in M. whitei could be related to a bioactivity: (i)
loliolide, a monoterpene lactone, found in the leaves for the
treatment of depression and (ii) 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde for the inhibition of tyrosinase