Phytochemical Investigation and Biological Activities of Lantana rhodesiensis.

Lantana rhodesiensis Moldenke is a plant widely used to treat diseases, such as rheumatism, diabetes, and malaria in traditional medicine. To better understand the traditional uses of this plant, a phytochemical study was undertaken, revealing a higher proportion of polyphenols, including flavonoids in L. rhodesiensis leaf extract and moderate proportion in stem and root extracts. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was also determined using three different assays: the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, the FRAP method (Ferric-reducing antioxidant power) and the ß-carotene bleaching test. The anti-malarial activity of each extract was also evaluated using asexual erythrocyte stages of Plasmodium falciparum, chloroquine-sensitive strain 3D7. The results showed that the leaf extract exhibited higher antioxidant and anti-malarial activities in comparison with the stem and root extracts, probably due to the presence of higher quantities of polyphenols including flavonoids in the leaves. A positive linear correlation was established between the phenolic compound content (total polyphenols including flavonoids and tannins; and total flavonoids) and the antioxidant activity of all extracts. Furthermore, four flavones were isolated from leaf dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions: a new flavone named rhodescine (5,6,3',5'-tetrahydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone) (1), 5-hydroxy-6,7,3',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (2), 5-hydroxy-6,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (3), and 5,6,3'-trihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (4). Their structures were elucidated by 1H, 13CNMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and MS-EI spectral methods. Aside from compound 2, all other molecules were described for the first time in this plant species.

New Oleanane-type glycosides and secoiridoid glucoside from Aptandra zenkeri.

Four new saponins, camelliagenin A and B derivatives, and one new secoiridoid glucoside were isolated from the stem bark of Aptandra zenkeri Engl. (Aptandraceae) together with two known secoiridoid glucosides. Their structures were determined based on a combination of 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments techniques and HR-ESI-MS analysis. This is the first report on saponins in genus Aptandra.

Isolation and structure elucidation of cyclopeptide alkaloids from the leaves of Heisteria parvifolia.

Heisteria parvifolia Sm. is prescribed in traditional medecine against numerous diseases in Côte d'Ivoire. Due to the shortcoming in scientifical knowledge of use of this species, our investigations revealed five undescribed cyclopeptide alkaloids added to one known derivative namely anorldianine. These compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR experiments and comparison with literature data, and confirmed by HR-ESI-MS. Cytotoxic activity evaluation of these compounds against the chronic myeloid leukemia (K565) cell line exhibited an antiproliferative activity with cell growth inhibition from 13% to 46%.

Triterpene saponins from the roots of Parkia bicolor A. Chev.

Five undescribed triterpene-type saponins, parkibicolorosides A-E, a cassane-type diterpene, and a known trimethoxy benzene glucoside were isolated from the roots of Parkia bicolor A. Chev. Their structures were elucidated by different spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments as well as HR-ESI-MS analysis. Their cytotoxic activity against the chronic myeloid leukemia (K562) cell line was evaluated. The monosaccharides saponins exhibited a moderate antiproliferative activity with IC50 ranging from 48.49 ±â€¯0.16 to 81.66 ±â€¯0.17 µM.