A new triterpenoid sapogenin from flowers of Bombax malabaricum / 中草药

Objective To study the chemical constituents from the flowers of Bombax malabaricum. Methods The compound was separated and purified by silica gel and gel column choromatography. The structure of the new compound was identified by NMR, HRMS (EIS), IR, UV, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Results A new compound was isolated from the flowers of B. malabaricum and identified as 3β-acetoxy-22α,30-dihydroxyurs-20-ene. Conclusion Compound 1 was a ursane-type triterpenoid and named as mumian terpene A.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of flowers of Wendlandia thyrsoidea, Olea dioica, Lagerstroemia speciosa and Bombax malabaricum.

Flowers of higher plants have been used for centuries for several purposes such as medicine, food and garnishing food in many parts of the world. In the present study, we have determined the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of methanol extract of flowers of Wendlandia thyrsoidea (Roemer & Schultes) Steudel (Rubiaceae), Olea dioica Roxb. (Oleaceae), Lagerstroemia speciosa L. (Lythraceae) and Bombax malabaricum DC. (Bombacaceae). Antioxidant efficacy of various concentrations of flower extracts was evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging assay and Ferric reducing assay. Antimicrobial activity was determined against four bacteria and two fungi by agar well diffusion method. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and Aluminium chloride colorimetric estimation methods respectively. The DPPH free radical scavenging effect of flower extracts was concentration dependent and was higher in case of extract of L. speciosa followed by W. thyrsoidea, B. malabaricum and O. dioica. In ferric reducing assay, it was shown that the absorbance of reaction mixture at 700nm increased on increasing the concentrations of flower extracts indicating reducing power of extracts. The reducing ability was also highest in L. speciosa extract. Extract of L. speciosa displayed marked inhibitory activity against bacteria and fungi than other flower extracts. Gram positive bacteria have shown more susceptibility than Gram negative bacteria. Among fungi, C. neoformans was more inhibited than C. albicans. Extracts of B. malabaricum and O. dioica were not effective against C. albicans. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were higher in L. speciosa and O. dioica respectively. A positive correlation has been observed between total phenolic content of flower extracts and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The flowers can be employed as a remedy for treatment of infectious diseases and oxidative damage. Further, isolation of active components from flower extracts and their biological activity determinations are under progress.

Protective effect of aqueous extract of Bombax malabaricum DC on experimental models of inflammatory bowel disease in rats and mice.

There is little evidence regarding role of B. malabaricum in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); though it is clinically employed as a constituent of a polyherbal preparation for IBD. To establish its role as a monotherapy for IBD, preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of B. malabaricum (AEBM) was undertaken. Subsequently, its protective effect in indomethacin and iodoacetamide induced colitis in rats (45, 90, 180, 270 mg/kg) and acetic acid induced colitis in mice (65, 130, 250, 500 mg/kg) was assessed. AEBM (270 mg/kg) in indomethacin and iodoacetamide induced colitis significantly reduced the ulcer score and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. AEBM/500 mg/kg dose/significantly reduced the ulcer score and MPO activity in acetic acid induced colitis. The extract (270 mg/kg in rats and 500 mg/kg in mice) was found to be comparable with prednisolone (10 mg/kg) and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) (100 mg/kg) used as standard treatments. AEBM provided reduction in edema of the intestinal tissues, ulcer protection and lowering of MPO activity in a dose dependent manner. AEBM (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced colonic and serum TNF-α level when compared with the positive control in acetic acid induced colitis model. The results suggest a protective role of AEBM in IBD.

Calidion bombacis, a new combination for Uredo bombacis with the record of Bombacopsisglabra (Bombacaceae) as a new host from Brazil / Calidion bombacis, uma nova combinação para Uredo bombacis e o relato de Bombacopsisglabra (Bombacaceae), como um novo hospedeiro no Brasil

The new combination Calidion bombacis is proposed for the rust species formerly known as Uredobombacis. This nomenclatural change is based on the examination of newly collected material of this fungus from a new host, Bombacopsisglabra from Brazil, and reexamination of the isotype. Until now this fungus was only known to occur in Asia (China, India and Sri Lanka). Therefore, this is also the first record of this fungus from the Neotropics.

A combinação nova Calidion bombacis é proposta para a ferrugem anteriormente conhecida como Uredo bombacis. Esta modificação nomenclatural é proposta baseada no exame de material deste fungo coletado em um novo hospedeiro, Bombacopsisglabra (Bombacaceae) no Brasil e reexame do isotipo. Até então este fungo tinha sido relatado apenas na Ásia (China, Índia e Sri Lanka). Portanto, este é o primeiro relato deste fungo nos Neotrópicos.