Terpenoids isolated from Azadirachta indica roots and biological activities

Abstract The chemical study of roots from Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Meliaceae, led to the isolation of two new terpenoids, limonoid morenolide and diterpene 17-hydroxy-sandaracopimar-8,15-dien-11-one, in addition to the four well-known limonoids nimbinene, nimbinal, nimbandiol and salannin, and three diterpenoids nimbidiol, ferruginol, and 6,7-dehydroferruginol. Their structural elucidations were based on one and bidimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry spectra data which was compared to the data found in literature. The anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antimycobacterial activities of the identified terpenoids were evaluated.