The evaluation of forty-three plant species for in vitro antimycobacterial activities; isolation of active constituents from Psoralea corylifolia and Sanguinaria canadensis.

Extracts from forty-three plant species were selected on account of reported traditional uses for the treatment of TB and/or leprosy. These were assayed for antimycobacterial activities. A simple in vitro screening assay was employed using two model species of mycobacteria, M. aurum and M. smegmatis. Crude methanolic extracts from three of the plants, C. mukul, P. corylifolia and S. canadensis, were found to have significant antimycobacterial activity against M. aurum only (MIC=62.5 microg/ml). Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of two known benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine (1) and chelerythrine (2), from the roots S. canadensis and the known phenolic meroterpene, bakuchiol (3) from the seeds of P. corylifolia. The fractionation of the resin of C. mukul lead to a decrease in antimycobacterial activity and hence further work was not pursued. Compound (2) was the most active against M. aurum and M. smegmatis (IC(50)=7.30 microg/ml [19.02 microM] and 29.0 microg/ml [75.56 microM], respectively). M. aurum was the most susceptible organism to all three compounds. No significant difference in antimycobacterial activity was observed when the two alkaloids were tested for activity in media of differing pH values. The activities of the pure compounds against M. aurum were comparable with those against M. bovis BCG with compound (2) being the most active (M. bovis BCG, IC(50)=14.3 microg/ml [37.3 microM]). These results support the use of these plants in traditional medicine.

The evaluation of forty-three plant species for in vitro antimycobacterial activities; isolation of active constituents from Psoralea corylifolia and Sanguinaria canadensis

Extracts from forty-three plant species were selected on account of reported traditional uses for the treatment of TB and/or leprosy. These were assayed for antimycobacterial activities. A simple in vitro screening assay was employed using two model species of mycobacteria, M. aurum and M. smegmatis. Crude methanolic extracts from three of the plants, C. mukul, P. corylifolia and S. canadensis, were found to have significant antimycobacterial activity against M. aurum only (MIC=62.5 microg/ml). Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of two known benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine (1) and chelerythrine (2), from the roots S. canadensis and the known phenolic meroterpene, bakuchiol (3) from the seeds of P. corylifolia. The fractionation of the resin of C. mukul lead to a decrease in antimycobacterial activity and hence further work was not pursued. Compound (2) was the most active against M. aurum and M. smegmatis (IC(50)=7.30 microg/ml [19.02 microM] and 29.0 microg/ml [75.56 microM], respectively). M. aurum was the most susceptible organism to all three compounds. No significant difference in antimycobacterial activity was observed when the two alkaloids were tested for activity in media of differing pH values. The activities of the pure compounds against M. aurum were comparable with those against M. bovis BCG with compound (2) being the most active (M. bovis BCG, IC(50)=14.3 microg/ml [37.3 microM]). These results support the use of these plants in traditional medicine.

Analysis of chaulmoogra oils. III. Hydnocarpus wightiana oil

The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the total fatty acids of H. wightiana oil have been by the method described in the first article of this series. This is the first quantitative analysis that has been made of this oil. Six constituents not previously reported have been found, four of which are new homologus of chaulmoogric acid. This analysis shows H. wightiana oil to be quite similar in composition to Carpotroche braziliensis oil.

Analysis of chaulmoogra oils. IV. Hydnocarpus anthelmintica oil. V. Taraktogenos Kurzii (chaulmoogra) oil

The qualitative and quantitative analyses of Hydnocarpus anthelmintica and Taraktogenos kurzii (chaulmoogra) oils have been made by the methods described in the first article of this series. They are the first quantitative analyses that have been made of these two important medicinal oils. The percentage compositions of these oils are given in Table I. A summary of the characteristics ans percentage compositions of the five oils of the chaulmoogra group so far analyzed in this series of articles is given in Tables IV and V.

Analysis of chaulmoogra oils

Four optically active fatty acids hitherto unknown have been discovered in Hydnocarpus wightiana oil. They have been named alepric, aleprylic, aleprestic and aleprolic acids. The characteristics of these new acids and their ethyl esters are given and their relationship to their previously known homologs, hydnocarpic and chaulmoogric acids, is shown.