Antidermatophytic and toxicological evaluations of dichloromethane-methanol extract, fractions and compounds isolated from Coula edulis

Coula edulis Bail [Olacaceae], is an evergreen tree growing to a height of 25-38 m. This study aimed at evaluating the antidermatophytic and toxicological properties of the stem bark of C. edulis extract as well as fractions and compounds isolated from it. The plant extract was prepared by maceration in CH[2]Cl[2]-MeOH [1:1 v/v]. The fractionation of this extract was done by silica gel column chromatography. Antidermatophytic activities were assayed using agar dilution method. The acute and sub-acute toxicities of oral administrations of the extract were studied in rodents. The crude extract of C. edulis displayed antidermatophytic activity against the tested microorganisms with highest activity against Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The fractionation enhanced the antidermatophytic activity in fraction F[3] [MIC=0.62-1.25 mg/ml] compared to the crude extract [MIC=1.25-5 mg/ml]. Further fractionation and purification of the fractions F[2] and F[3] gave respectively 3-O- beta -D-glucopyranoside of sitosterol [MIC=0.20-0.40 mg/ml] and a mixture of beta -sitosterol, stigmasterol and n-hexadecanoid acid [MIC=0.80 mg/ml]. The median lethal doses [LD[50]] of the crude extract were 16.8 and 19.6 g/kg body weight [BW] in male and female mice, respectively. At 200 mg/kg BW, there was a decrease in body weight gain, food and water consumptions. Gross anatomical analysis revealed white vesicles on the liver of the rats treated with the extract at 200 mg/kg BW. This dose also induced significant [P<0.05] changes on hematological and biochemical parameters in rats after 28 days of treatment. These data suggest that the CH[2]Cl[2]-MeOH [1:1 v/v] extract of C. edulis stem bark possesses antidermatophytic properties. They also show that at high doses [>/= 200 mg/kg BW], the extract has significant hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic activities

antimicrobial activities of extract and compounds isolated from Brillantaisia lamium

Brillantaisia lamium is an erect branched herb, which grows to a height of 1.50 m in moist tropical areas, both in full sun and partial shade. In Cameroon, the aerial part of this plant is used in the treatment of various microbial infections such as skin diseases and infections of urinary tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of CH[2]Cl[2]: MeOH [1:1] extract, fractions and compounds from the aerial part of B. lamium. The plant was dried and extracted by maceration in CH[2]Cl[2]: MeOH [1:1 v/v]. Structures of the compounds from the CH[2]Cl[2]: MeOH [1:1] soluble fraction were determined by spectroscopic methods and compared with published data. The broth micro dilution method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungal species. Four known compounds: aurantiamide acetate [1], lupeol [2], lespedin [3], sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside [4] and a mixture of sterols: campesterol [5], stigmasterol [6] and beta-sitosterol [7] were isolated from CH[2]Cl[2]: MeOH [1:1] extract of B. lamium aerial parts. The crude extract, fractions and isolated compounds exhibited both antibacterial and anti-fungal activities that varied with microorganism [MIC=6.25 - 1000 micro g/ml]. Compound 3 was the most active [MIC=6.25 - 100 micro g/ml] while Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans were the most sensitive to all the tested compounds. The overall results of this study indicate that the CH[2]Cl[2]: MeOH [1:1] extract and some of isolated compounds have interesting antimicrobial properties and can be used for the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections