Secondary metabolites from Drimiopsis baterrii

D. Ngamga; P. Tane; M. Bezabih; B. M. Abegaz

doi:10.1055/s-2006-949886

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Secondary metabolites from Drimiopsis baterrii

D Ngamga ¹, P Tane ¹, M Bezabih ², BM Abegaz ²

¹Chemistry Department, University of Dschang, Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon
²Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, P.O. Box UB00704, Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract

The genus Drimiopsis Lindl. (Hyacinthaceae) is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, where it is represented by approximately 20 species [1]. Drimiopsis barterii Bak is the only specie of the genus which occurs in Cameroon. The plant is used by the Bamileke people of the Western province of Cameroon to treat fever. In a continuation of our search for bioactive compounds from natural source [2], a methylene chloride-methanol (1:1) extract of Drimiopsis barterii (whole plant) was investigated. Two new alkaloids (Drimiopsine A (1) and B(2)) and nine homoisoflavonids with two new structures (3, 4) were isolated.The structure of the compounds were established by MS, 1D and 2D spectroscopy including DEPT, COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments.

Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI) and the international program in the chemical Sciences (IPICS) through the Network for Analytical and Bioassay Services in Africa (NABSA).

Reference: 1. Ngamga, D. et al. (2005), Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B 60b: 973–977.