Antifungal constituents of Melicope borbonica.
Fractionation of extracts of the leaves of Melicope borbonica (syn. Euodia borbonica var. borbonica), a medicinal plant from the Réunion Island that is traditionally used for wound healing and other ailments, afforded an acetophenone (xanthoxylin) and two coumarins, scoparone and limettin, as the major constituents. All three compounds exhibited moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Penicillium expansum, in accordance with the traditional use of the plant. Moreover, 2,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone (methylxanthoxylin), three other coumarins [7-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)-6-methoxycoumarin, cedrelopsin and psoralen], two sesquiterpenes (alpha-curcumene and 3,6-epidioxy-1,10-bisaboladiene), eugenol, methyleugenol and a lignan (sesamin) were isolated. None of the isolated constituents exhibited antiin fl ammatory activity in vitro. No alkaloids were detected.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henrik Toft
HT
Simonsen
Anne
A
Adsersen
Paul
P
Bremner
Michael
M
Heinrich
Ulla
U
Wagner Smitt
Jerzy W
JW
Jaroszewski
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D027821:Rutaceae; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts