title: Antimycobacterial agents from selected Mexican medicinal plants.
abstract: As part of the ICBG program Bioactive Agents from Dryland Biodiversity of Latin America, the present investigation was undertaken to explore the possible antimycobacterial potential of compounds derived from selected Mexican medicinal plants. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extracts of Rumex hymenosepalus (Polygonaceae), Larrea divaricata (Zygophyllaceae), Phoradendron robinsonii (Loranthaceae) and Amphipteryngium adstringens (Julianiaceae) led to the isolation of several antimycobacterial compounds. Four stilbenoids, two flavan-3-ols and three anthraquinones were isolated from R. hymenosepalus. Two flavonols and nordihydroguaiaretic acid were obtained from L. divaricata. Sakuranetin was the antimycobacterial agent isolated from P. robinsonii. Two known triterpenoids and the novel natural product 3-dodecyl-1,8-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid were obtained from A. adstringens. In general, the isolates were identified by spectral means. The antimycobacterial activity of the secondary compounds isolated from the analysed species, as well as that of nine pure compounds previously isolated in our laboratories, was investigated; the MIC values ranged from 16 to 128 microg mL-1. Among the tested compounds, the glycolipids, sesquiterpenoids and triterpenoids showed the best antimycobacterial activity. The antimycobacterial property of the glycolipids is reported for the first time. Although the tested compounds showed moderate antimycobacterial activity, their presence in the analysed species provides the rationale for their traditional use in the treatment of tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Coyoacán, 04510, México.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rivero-Cruz
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pereda-Miranda
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franzblau
authors.forename: Barbara N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Timmermann
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mata
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts