Studies done by the department of Pharmacognosy, Tokyo College of Pharmacy & the Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo University, Japan, found anti-cancer properties by isolating antileukaemic activities of compounds from the plant. Early results from a study conducted by a Malaysian government-sponsored agency and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that some chemical constituents of the "Tongkat Ali" plant show potent anti-cancer and anti-HIV activity. According to Abdul Razak Mohd Ali, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia’s Director General, initial laboratory work has shown that the chemical constituents (of Tongkat Ali) could be more effective than existing anti-cancer drugs.