Planta Med 2013; 79 - P32
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1336474

Chalcone Oligomers from the Stem Bark of Brackenridgea zanguebarica

HH Issa 1, 2, N Abe 1, Z Ali 1, IA Khan 1, 3
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
  • 2Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Dodoma. P. O. Box 259, Dodoma, Tanzania
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, MS, 38677, USA

The genus Brackenridgea belongs to the family Ochnaceae with approximately 12 species distributed from Africa to the Fiji Islands [1]. B. zanguebarica has been used as a traditional African medicine for the treatment of wounds [2], conjunctivitis [3] and anaemia [4]. Previously, various chalcone dimers have been isolated from this family, such as calodenin B [5], isochamaejasmine [5, 6], and brackenin [6]. These dimers are of interest due to the inconsistent isomers that result from the many chalcone frameworks. Phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of B. zanguebarica is indicated to explore new chemical constituents. Structure elucidation resulted in the isolation of four dimeric and one tetrameric chalcones including three new compounds.

Acknowledgements: The research was supported by USDA Agricultural Research Service Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58 – 6408 – 02 – 1-612. References: [1] Schatz GE (2001) Generic Tree Flora of Madagascar. [2] Bally PRO (1937) Bull Misc, Information Roy Bot Kew, 1: 10 – 26. [3] Neuwinger HD (2000) African traditional medicine – a dictionary of plant use and applications. [4] Chhabara SC, Mahunnah RLA, Mshiu RN (1990)J Ethnopharmacol, 29: 295 – 323. [5] Drews SE (1983) Phytochem, 22: 2823 – 2825. [6] Drews SE (1987)J Chem Soc Perkin Trans, 1: 2809 – 2813.