Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_394
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-987174

Phytochemistry of Sutherlandia microphylla, an important South African medicinal plant

DK Olivier 1, CA Albrecht 2, BE van Wyk 2, FR Van Heerden 3
  • 1Department of Chemical Technology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 526, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
  • 3School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X101, Scottsville 3209, South Africa

Sutherlandia microphylla R. Br. ex W.T. Aiton (Fabaceae, tribe Galegeae), commonly known as 'cancer bush', is an important medicinal plant in South Africa, yet little is known on the phytochemistry of this plant. It has been reported that extracts of S. microphylla have antioxidant [1,2], hypoglycemic [3], analgesic [3] and anti-inflammatory [3] effects. Extracts also inhibit phorbol ester-induced COX-2 expression in mouse skin [4,5], have antiproliferate effect on several human cell lines [2], can induce apoptosis [6] and decrease the corticosterone response to chronic stress. Inhibition studies on HIV reverse transcriptase indicated that although organic extracts of the leaves did not show any activity, inhibition was observed by an aqueous extract. In this contribution, the structural elucidation and the biological significance of the major novel triterpenoids (SU1 and SU2) and flavonoids of S. microphylla will be discussed.

SU1

SU2

Acknowledgements: National Research Foundation (South Africa)

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