Planta Med 2008; 74(4): 411-413
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1034357
Pharmacology
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Isolation and Biological Activities of Termilignan B and Arjunic Acid from Terminalia sericea Roots

Ibrahim M. S. Eldeen1 , Fanie R. Van Heerden2 , Johannes Van Staden1
  • 1Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
  • 2School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Further Information

Publication History

Received: August 28, 2007 Revised: January 29, 2008

Accepted: February 10, 2008

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Bioassay-guided fractionation of ethyl acetate root extracts of Terminalia sericea yielded a new compound, termilignan B, and the known arjunic acid. Both compounds showed activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with MIC values ranging between 1.9 and 15.6 μg/mL. The lowest MIC value (1.9 μg/mL) was observed with termilignan B against Bacillus subtilis. Neither of the compounds showed significant activity against Mycobacterium aurum A+. In the cyclooxygenase assays, the compounds showed weak inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 78 μM (COX-1) and 156 μM (COX-2) (termilignan B) and 36 μM (COX-1) and 253 μM (COX-2) (arjunic acid). No potential mutagenic effects were observed with the two compounds in the Salmonella microsome assay (TA 98).

Abbreviations

COX: cyclooxygenase

References

Professor J. Van Staden

Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development

School of Biological and Conservation Sciences

University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg

Private Bag X01

Scottsville 3209

South Africa

Phone: +27-(0)33-260-5130

Fax: +27-(0)33-260-5897

Email: rcpgd@ukzn.ac.za