title: New Polyfunctional Phragmalin Limonoids from Neobeguea mahafalensis.
abstract: Neobeguea mahafalensis is used as a medicinal plant in Madagascar. A decoction of the stem bark of this species is reported to treat back pain. Recently, it was reported that a decoction of the root bark, containing two novel phragmalin limonoids as identified active constituents, exhibited an extraordinarily high potency and remarkably long duration in augmenting sexual activity in male rodents.From the dichloromethane extract of the root barks of N. mahafalensis, nine phragmalin limonoids were isolated, of which eight were novel compounds. The structures were established mainly by extensive use of 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques and high-resolution mass spectrometry. One of the new compounds named dodoguin displayed sleep-inducing activity in Swiss albino mice. The amount of 3-10 mg/kg of this compound induced sleep 18-22 min after its administration with a duration of 16-18 min.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Torgils
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fossen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Aleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yahorau
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sviatlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yahorava
authors.affiliation: Institut Malagasy de Recherches Appliquées, Fondation Rakoto Ratsimamanga, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Fanja
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raharinjato
authors.affiliation: Institut Malagasy de Recherches Appliquées, Fondation Rakoto Ratsimamanga, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Solofoniaina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Razafimahefa
authors.affiliation: Institut Malagasy de Recherches Appliquées, Fondation Rakoto Ratsimamanga, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rasoanaivo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jarl E S
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wikberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036701:Limonins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008270:Madagascar; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D029582:Meliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D000068776:Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D036701:Limonins; D000068776:Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical