3α-Hy­droxy­tirucalla-8,24-dien-21-oic acid

The title compound, C30H48O3, a triterpene isolated from the resin of canarium schweinfurthiiand, is an isomer of the previously reported triterpene 3α-hy­droxy­tirucalla-7,24-dien-21-oic acid [Mora et al. (2001 ▶). Acta Cryst. C57, 638–640], which crystallizes in the same trigonal space group. The title mol­ecule consists of four fused rings having chair, half-chair, half-chair and envelope conformations for rings A, B, C and D, respectively (steroid labelling). An intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bond generates an S(7) ring. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O inter­actions, forming (001) sheets

A cocrystal of 3α-hy­droxy­tirucalla-8,24-dien-21-oic acid and 3β-fluoro­tirucalla-7,24-dien-21-oic acid (0.897:0.103)

The title compound, 0.897C30H48O3.0.103C30H47O2F is a co-crystal of two triterpenes isolated from the resin of Canarium schweinfurthiiand Engl. Both triterpenes consists of four trans-fused rings having chair/half-chair/half-chair and envelope conformations. The mol­ecular conformations are stabilized by intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming rings of S(7) graph-set motif. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O inter­actions, forming sheets parallel to (001). All atoms. excepting the axially-oriented hydroxyl group in the major component and the equatorially-oriented fluorine atom in the minor component, are overlapping

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of stem bark extract of Khaya grandifoliola (Welw) CDC and Entada africana Guill. et Perr

ABSTRACT Khaya grandifoliola (Meliaceae) and Entada africana (Fabaceae) are traditionally used as source of medicines against liver related diseases. But the most efficient solvent to extract the plants bioactive compounds has not yet been found. This work aimed at evaluating and comparing the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Hexane (HE), methylenechloride-methanol (MCME) and water (WE) extracts of the plants stem bark. The hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by acetaminopheninduced damage in rat liver slices in measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage as toxicity marker. The antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2, 4-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH), β-carotene-linoleic acid system (β-CLAMS) and microsomal lipid peroxidation (MLP) assays. The MCME extract of both plants efficiently decreased LDH leakage from liver slices. At the tested concentration of 100µg/ml, the hepatoprotective percentage of the extract of K. grandifoliola (87.15%) and that of silymarine (93.73%) were comparable. In the antioxidant study, the MCME and WE extracts of both plants performed well in inhibiting MLP assay but, the MCME extracts were the more antioxidant with IC 50 values of 2.7±0.05µg/ml and 0.50±0.07µg/ml comparable with Trolox (2.27±0.52µg/ml) for K. grandifoliola and E. africana, respectively. Phytochemically, many classes of compounds including polyphenols were tested positive in the MCME extracts. From the interesting activity of these extracts, it might be concluded that methylenechloride-methanol (1:1v/v) mixture is the most efficient solvent to extract hepatoprotective and antioxidant active principles from K. grandifoliola and E. africana stem bark

Traditional Medicine: Past, present and future research and development prospects and integration in the National Health System of Cameroon

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being. In the last decade traditional medicine has become very popular in Cameroon, partly due to the long unsustainable economic situation in the country. The high cost of drugs and increase in drug resistance to common diseases like malaria, bacteria infections and other sexually transmitted diseases has caused the therapeutic approach to alternative traditional medicine as an option for concerted search for new chemical entities (NCE). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Cameroon Government has put in place a strategic platform for the practice and development of TM in Cameroon. This platform aims at harmonizing the traditional medicine practice in the country, create a synergy between TM and modern medicine and to institutionalize a more harmonized integrated TM practices by the year 2012 in Cameroon. An overview of the practice of TM past, present and future perspectives that underpins the role in sustainable poverty alleviation has been discussed. This study gives an insight into the  strategic plan and road map set up by the Government of Cameroon for the organisational framework and research platform for the practice and development of TM, and the global partnership involving the management of TM in the country.Key words: Tradttional medicine, Cameroon

ERYTHROSUAVINE, A NEW DITERPENIC ALKALOID FROM ERYTHROPHLEUM SUAVEOLENS (GUILL. & PERR.) BRENAN

From the chloroform extract of the stem bark of Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan, a new diterpenic alkaloid (Erythrosuavine) has been isolated and characterized as N-acetyl-9,11-dehydro-6-ketocassaidinyl-3-acetate 1. The structure of the above compound was elucidated from one and two-dimensional 1H and 13C NMR spectra as well as from 1H-1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC correlations. KEY WORDS: N-acetyl–9,11-dehydro–6-ketocassaidinyl-3-acetate, Erythrophleum suaveolens, Erythrosuavine Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2005, 19(1), 69-74

Trypanocidal labdane diterpenoids from the seeds of Aframomum aulacocarpos (Zingiberaceae)

Two novel labdane type diterpenoids, 8 beta(17)-epoxy-14,15,16-trihydroxylabd-12(E)-ene (aulacocarpin C) and 15,16-epoxy-14 xi, 16 xi-dimethoxylabda-8(17), 12-(E)-diene (aulacocarpin D) together with the known aulacocarpin A and B; 14,15-epoxy-8(17), 12(E)-labdadien- 16-al, coronarin E, and 15,16-epoxy-12 beta-hydroxy-labda-8(17)-13(16), 14-triene were isolated from the seeds of Aframomum aulacocarpos. To the best of our knowledge, the last compound was isolated from a natural source for the first time. Acid hydrolysis of aulacocarpin D led to another new labdane type diterpenoid, 15,16-epoxy-12 beta-methoxylabda-8(17)-13(16), 14-triene. The structures of all compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. These new compounds exhibit moderate trypanocidal activity.