DPPH Radical Scavenging and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity of Terminalia macroptera Leaves

Abstract

From a methanol extract of the leaves of the Malian medicinal tree Terminalia macroptera, cis-polyisoprene (1), chebulic acid trimethyl ester (2), methyl gallate (3), shikimic acid (4), corilagin (5), rutin (6), narcissin (7), chebulagic acid (8) and chebulinic acid (9), were isolated. Cispolyisoprene (1) was the major non-polar constituent. The novel compound 2 showed high radical scavenging activity (IC 50 4.7 μg/mL), but was inactive as xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The major substituent of the crude extract, substance 5, showed a high radical scavenger effect (IC 50 2.7 μg/mL) and weak xanthine oxidase inhibition (IC 50 ca 105 μg/mL). The antioxidant and radical scavenging effects of some of the substances identified in this study may to some extent explain the medical use of this tree in West Africa.

Ethnopharmacology, Chemistry and Biological Properties of Four Malian Medicinal Plants

“…A series of compounds was isolated and identified [13] from the methanolic extract (Figure 4): The flavonoids rutin ( 6 ) and narcissin ( 7 ), the hydrolyzable tannins corilagin ( 8 ), chebulagic acid ( 9 ), chebulinic acid ( 10 ) and chebulic acid trimethyl ester ( 11 ), methyl gallate ( 12 ) and shikimic acid ( 13 ). In the dichloromethane extract, poly- cis -isoprene ( 14 ; calculated average chain length ca 25 units) was the main constituent.…”

“…We found [13] that the methanol crude extract had high radical scavenger activity (6.2 ± 0.4 μg/mL) and showed moderate inhibition (52 ± 5 μg/mL) of xanthine oxidase, an enzyme involved in production of superoxide radical anion. Xanthine oxidase inhibition is of medicinal importance in the treatment of gout.…”

Bioactive polyphenols in Ximenia americana and the traditional use among Malian healers

“…Test substances were dissolved in DMSO, and the assay was carried out as reported previously (Pham et al, 2011). Quercetin (Sigma-Aldrich) was used as positive control.…”

Terminalia macroptera, its current medicinal use and future perspectives

“…This could be related to the presence of ellagitannins, which are known antimicrobial compounds (Adesina et al, 2000). We have recently isolated the ellagitannin corilagin from T. macroptera leaves (Pham et al, 2011). Interestingly, this substance has been reported to potentiate the activity of ␤-lactam antibiotics against methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (Shimizu et al, 2001).…”