Plectranthus madagascariensis is used as a traditional medicine in Southern Africa. In search of compounds and activities supporting the medicinal use, the chemical profile of the methanolic extract was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Four major constituents were isolated and identified as rosmarinic acid (1), 7β,6β-dihydroxyroyleanone (2), 7β-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (3) and coleon U quinone (4). The two abietane diterpenoids (2 and 3) were isolated for the first time from this species. Antimicrobial, cholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of these compounds were studied. The compounds exhibited inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase with IC50 values from 33 to 275 μM. Abietanes showed potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.