Monoterpenes with antibacterial activities from a Cameroonian medicinal plant Canthium Multiflorum (Rubiaceae).

Investigation of the crude extract obtained from the aerial parts of Canthium multiflorum led to the isolation of a new iridoid (1) together with twelve known compounds. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, accurate mass measurements and comparison with analytical data of previously known analogues. Most of the isolated compounds have been reported for the first time from C. multiflorium. The antimicrobial activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated on five different bacterial strains using agar diffusion technique. The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (DSM 799), and the Gram-negative bacteria Actinobacter calco-aceticus (DSM 30006), Serratia plymuthica (DSM 4540), Pseudomonas stutzeri (DSM 4166) and Escherichia coli (DSM 1116) were employed for this purpose. The new iridoid, named 6-oxo-genipin (1), demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against all microbial strains tested, especially the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the compounds 3, 4 and 9 exhibited antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strain K1 and weak cytotoxicity against L6 cell lines.

Minor secondary metabolic products from the stem bark of Plumeria rubra Linn. displaying antimicrobial activities.

Four new iridoids viz., plumeridoids A, B, and C and epiplumeridoid C were isolated from the stem bark of Plumeria rubra Linn. together with twenty-four known compounds viz., 1-( P-hydroxyphenyl)propan-1-one, isoplumericin, plumericin, dihydroplumericin, allamcin, fulvoplumerin, allamandin, plumieride, P- E-coumaric acid, 2,6-dimethoxy- P-benzoquinone, scopoletin, cycloart-25-en-3 beta,24-diol, 2,4,6-trimethoxyaniline, ajunolic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, beta-amyrin acetate, betulinic acid, lupeol and its acetate, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl octacosanoate, glucoside of beta-sitosterol, and a mixture of common sterols (stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol). Their structures were determined by means of spectroscopic data including HREIMS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC, NOESY) and by comparison with published data. All but one of thirteen tested compounds exhibited antifungal, antialgal, and/or antibacterial activities.