The effect of Cordia platythyrsa on various experimental models of pain and carrageenan induced inflammation

Only one study has reported on the medicinal properties of Cordia platythyrsa (C. platythyrsa) though it is used in African traditional medicine for treatment of fever and pain. The current study aimed at investigating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of C. platythyrsa using various animal models: writhing test, tail flick, thermal hyperalgesia, mechanically induced-pain, formalin-induced pain and carrageenan-induced inflammation tests. Like aspirin, the two doses of plant extracts used inhibited acetic acid-induced pain though these effects were weaker than the effects of morphine. Although, the plant extract significantly (p<0.01) inhibited thermal pain, its effects were less significant compared to morphine. Celecoxib (10 mg/kg) and plant extract (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited thermal hyperalgesia compared to indomethacin. On the other hand, both doses of plant extract significantly increased mechanical pain thresholds 30 and 90 min post treatment. The plant extract (150 mg/kg) inhibited both the neurogenic and inflammatory pain phases of formalin-induced pain as well as carrageenan-induced inflammation. This study is the first to show that C. platythyrsa has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.Keywords: Analgesia, pain, writhing, formalin, thermal hyperalgiaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(2), pp. 343-348, 8 January, 201

Cordidepsine is A Potential New Anti-HIV Depsidone from Cordia millenii

Chemical investigation of Cordia millenii, Baker resulted in the isolation of a new depsidone, cordidepsine (1), along with twelve known compounds including cyclooctasulfur (2), lup-20(29)-en-3-triacontanoate (3), 1-(26-hydroxyhexacosanoyl)glycerol (4), glyceryl-1-hexacosanoate (5) betulinic acid (6), lupenone (7), β-amyrone (8), lupeol (9), β-amyrin (10), allantoin (11), 2′-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylpropanoate (12) and stigmasterol glycoside (13). Hemi-synthetic reactions were carried out on two isolated compounds (5 and 6) to afford two new derivatives, that is, cordicerol A (14) and cordicerol B (15), respectively. The chemical structures of all the compounds were established based on analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic data such as electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI–MS), high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI–MS), fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB–MS), one dimension and two dimension nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D-NMR) spectral data as well as X-ray crystallography (XRC). Lupeol ester derivatives [Lup-20(29)-en-3-triacontanoate (3)], monoglycerol derivatives [1-(26-hydroxyhexacosanoyl)glycerol (4) and glyceryl-1 hexacosanoate (5)] were isolated for the first time from Cordia genus while sulfur allotrope [cyclooctasulfur (2)] was isolated for the first time from plant origin. Biological assays cordidepsine (1) exhibited significant anti-HIV integrase activity with IC50 = 4.65 μM; EtOAc extract of stem barks, EtOAc fraction of roots and leaves were not toxic against 3T3 cells

Isolation and characterization of 5-hydoxy-4', 7-dimethoxyisoflavone from the root bark of Millettia Mannii (Leguminoceae)

No Abstract. Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences Vol. 5(2&3) 2005: 97-10

Phytochemical composition and in vitro effects of the ethyl acetate bark extract of Distemonanthus benthamianus Baillon (Caesalpiniaceae) on Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae

Distemonanthus benthamianus is a tree used in traditional African medicine to treat bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The pasty phase and the granular phase obtained from the ethyl acetate bark extract of D. benthamianus were tested for antimicrobial purposes on Staphylococcus aureus and on Streptococcus agalactiae alone and in combination with erythromycin. Only the pasty phase of the extract was active against the above bacteria (MIC = 1024 µg/mL ; MBC = 4096 µg/mL). The MIC of erythromycin against S. aureus and S. agalactiae was 8 µg/mL and 4 µg/mL, respectively. The MBC of erythromycin was 32 µg/mL against S. aureus and 8 µg/mL against S. agalactiae. The combination of that active phase (256 µg/mL) with erythromycin (1 µg/mL) was synergistic and the ratio MBC / MIC was 4 suggesting that the plant extract may be a bactericidal agent. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the pasty phase of the plant extract and the absence of sterols, triterpenes and alkaloids in the same phase. In contrast, the granular phase contained all the above compounds except flavonoids. This result suggests that the active principle may belong to the class of flavonoids. Keywords: Distemonanthus benthamianus, MBC, MIC, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae. RESUME Distemonanthus benthamianus est un arbre utilisé en médecine traditionnelle africaine pour traiter les infections bactériennes et virales, ainsi que les mycoses. Les effets antibactériens des phases pâteuse et granulaire obtenues à partir de l'extrait à l'acétate d'éthyle de l'écorce de D. benthamianus ont été testés sur Staphylococcus aureus et sur Streptococcus agalactiae seule ou en association avec l'érythromycine. Seule la phase pâteuse a été active sur les bactéries évoquées (CMI = 1024 µg/mL ; CMB = 4096 µg/mL). La CMI de l'érythromycine vis à vis de S. aureus et de S. agalactiae a été de 8 µg/mL et de 4 µg/mL, respectivement. La CMB de l'érythromycine a été de 32 µg/mL sur S. aureus et de 8 µg/mL sur S. agalactiae. L'association de la phase pâteuse (256 µg/mL) avec l'érythromycine a été synergique et le rapport CMB / CMI a été de 4. Ceci montre que cet extrait de plante pourrait être un agent bactéricide. L'analyse phytochimique a révélé la présence des flavonoïdes et des composés phénoliques dans la phase pâteuse de l'extrait et l'absence des stérols, des triterpènes et des alcaloïdes dans cette même phase. Par contre, tous les composés sus-cités à l'exception des flavonoïdes ont été notés dans la phase granulaire. Ce résultat suggère que le principe actif appartiendrait à la classe des flavonoïdes. Mots clés: Distemonanthus benthamianus, CMB, CMI, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae Cameroon Journal of Experimental Biology Vol. 1(1) 2005: 50-5

Effects of the methanol extract of Erythrina abyssinica on hot flashes in ovariectomized rats

We investigated the estrogen-like properties of the methanol extract of Erythrina abyssinica in ovariectomized rats. Climaterix was induced in female rats by surgically removing the ovaries. Data loggers implanted in the abdominal cavity during the procedure recorded core temperatures at predetermined time intervals for 72 h. 6 h after the onset of temperature recording, animals were treated with estrogen (1 mg/kg), methanol extract of Erythrina abyssinica (200 mg/kg) or an equivalent volume of 5% ethanol. Rats treated with extract had significantly fewer hot flashes (171 ± 11 vs. 264 ± 21) which were of shorter duration (683 ± 137 min vs. 1935 ± 345 min) compared to untreated animals. Treated animals had lower core temperature during periods of high activity indicating that the methanol extract of E. abyssinica reduced frequency and duration of hot flashes.Keywords: Ovariectomized, extract, Erythrina abyssinica, climaterixAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(6), pp. 598-60

New alkamide and ent-kaurane diterpenoid derivatives from Senecio erechtitoides (Asteraceae)

Fractionation of a MeOH/CH2Cl2 (1/1) extract of the aerial parts of Senecio erechtitoides led to the isolation of six compounds including the hitherto unknown N-phenethylamide derivative named N-(p-hydroxyphenethyl)pentacosanamide (1), and a kauranoid derivative named derivative named ent-7-oxo-16 alpha,17-dihydroxykauran-19-oic acid (2), as well as four known compounds, ent-Kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (3), ent-7 beta-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid (4), ent-7-oxokaur-16-en-19-oic acid (5), steppogenin 4′-O-beta-d-glucoside (6). Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, chemical reactions, and comparison with previously known analogs. All isolates were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity and only diterpenoids were found to possess a potent inhibitor effect against the range of microorganism

Two biflavonoids from Ouratea nigroviolacea

The leaves of Ouratea nigroviolacea (Ochnaceae) afforded two biflavonoids, ouratine A and B together with agathisflavone and stigmasterol. The biflavonoids were characterized as 4'-O-methylated apigeninyl-(I-6, II-8)-4'-O-methylatedapigenin and 4'-O-methylated apigeninyl-(I-6, II-8) apigenin by spectral and chemical transformation studies