BackgroundIn our previous studies, it was evident that the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) stem barks extract of Polyscias fulva and fractions (ethyl acetate, n-butanol and residue) demonstrated interesting antidermatophytic activities. So, as a continuity of that, this work aimed at identifying active principles with antifungal properties from P. fulva that could be used as markers for possible standardization of this plant as phytomedicine.MethodsThe ethyl acetate, n-butanol and residual fractions of the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) stem bark extract of Polyscias fulva were further fractionated by column chromatography and the structures of isolated compounds elucidated based on their spectroscopic data in comparison with existing literature information. Antifungal activity was assayed by broth microdilution techniques on yeasts and dermatophytes spores.ResultsThe fractionation of the crude dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) stem bark extract of Polyscias fulva led to the isolation of 10 known compounds (1 to 10) and one new saponin (11: 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1–2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-28-O-[α-L-4-O-acetyl-rhamnopyranosyl (1–4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1–6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-hederagenin). Among these compounds, 3-O-α-L- arabinopyranosyl-hederagenin and 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1–2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-hederagenin were the most active on the tested fungi with MIC values ranging from 0.78 to 100 μg/ml against both yeasts and dermatophytes.ConclusionThe results of this work constitute a step forward in the possible development of an antidermatophytic phytomedicine from Polyscias fulva stem bark, the isolated compounds being possible markers for the standardisation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-015-0541-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Anthraquinones from Pentas schimperi and mostly 1 and 2 are potential cytotoxic natural products that deserve more investigations to develop novel antineoplastic drugs against multifactorial drug resistant cancers.

The anti-inflammatory activity of a coumarin and nine anthraquinone derivatives, 3-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2-methylanthraquinone (1), 2-hydroxymethyl anthraquinone (2), schimperiquinone B (3), cleomiscosin A (4), damnacanthal (5), 1,2-dihydroxy anthraquinone (6), damnacanthol (7), 3-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl anthraquinone (8), 1-hydroxy-2-methoxyanthraquinone (9), and 2-hydroxymethyl-3-O-prenylanthraquinone (10), isolated from the roots of Pentas schimperi were determined. The anti-15-lipoxygenase activity and nitric oxide production inhibition on lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages RAW 264.7 cells were determined as indicators of anti-inflammatory activity. The Griess assay was used to measure nitric oxide production and the ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange assay was used to determine the 15-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. All the compounds significantly decreased nitrite + nitrate accumulation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with 85.67 % to 119.75 % inhibition of nitrite + nitrate production at 20 µg/mL. Most of the compounds had a moderate inhibitory effect on 15-lipoxygenase activity. Compounds 8 and 10 were the most potent inhibitor both in nitrite + nitrate production with respective IC50 values of 1.56 µM and 6.80 µM. Compounds 2, 7, and 8 had good anti-15-lipoxygenase activity with respective IC50 values of 13.80 µM, 14.80 µM, and 15.80 µM compared to quercetin, which was used as a standard lipoxygenase inhibitor (IC50 of 16.80 µM). Our study revealed 3-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl anthraquinone and damnacanthol as potent inhibitors of both 15-lipoxygenase activity and nitric oxide production. Further studies are needed in order to envisage its possible future use as a therapeutic alternative against inflammatory diseases.

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