Bioactive constituents of the roots of Licania intrapetiolaris

J Nat Prod. 2001 Apr;64(4):497-501. doi: 10.1021/np0005006.

Abstract

Fractionation of a methanol extract of the roots of Licania intrapetiolaris, as directed by activity against the KB assay, has led to the isolation of two novel clerodane diterpenoids, intrapetacins A (1) and B (2), and the known triterpenoid cucurbitacin B (3). The structures of 1 and 2 were deduced from one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments, including relative stereochemical assignments based on NOESY correlations and COSY coupling constants. Compound 3 was the most potent against the KB assay, but both 1 and 2 displayed moderate cytotoxicity. When evaluated against an antifungal assay using Aspergillus niger, 2 caused a significant zone of inhibition of fungal growth, while 1 was completely inactive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of bioactive compounds from the genus Licania.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus niger / drug effects
  • Aspergillus niger / growth & development
  • Diterpenes / chemistry
  • Diterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Diterpenes / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Rosales / chemistry*
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Diterpenes
  • Triterpenes
  • intrapetacin A
  • intrapetacin B
  • cucurbitacin B