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DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264666
Flavonoids and benzoic acid derivatives from Dioclea virgata
Plants of the genus Dioclea (Family Leguminosae) are commonly used in Brazilian folk medicine for various diseases. Dioclea virgata is a climbing shrub which is endemic in Bahia (Northeast of Brazil). It leaves are used in popular medicine for treatment of kidney and prostate diseases [1]. Chemical investigation of leaves of Dioclea virgata led to isolation of 7-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone (1), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone (2) and 7-hydroxy-6 methoxyflavanonol (3), as well as 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid, lupeol and glycoside of stigmasterol. 7-Hydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone (2), isolated from Dioclea violacea by our group, has previously been found to possess immunomodulatory activity by inhibiting the synthesis of NO as well as lymphocyte proliferation [2].
Acknowledgements: We wish to thank CAPES (Brazil) for financial support and CNPq (Brazil) for a fellowship for C.Q. Alves
References: 1. David, J.P. et al. (2002) Rev. Brás. Farmacogn. 12: 05–06.
2. Barreiros, A. L. B. S. et al. (2000) Phytochemistry, 55, 805.