Planta Med 2010; 76 - P368
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264666

Flavonoids and benzoic acid derivatives from Dioclea virgata

C Queiroz Alves 1, A Kijjoa 1, J Maurício David 2, J Pereria David 2
  • 1Universidade do Porto, Chemistry, Largo do Prof. Abel salazar, 2, 4099003 Porto, Portugal
  • 2Universidade Federal da Bahia, Química, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Ondina, 40170–115 Salvador, Brazil

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].

Fig.1

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.