Antioxidant potential and radical-scavenging effects of flavonoids from the leaves of Psidium cattleianum grown in French Polynesia.

Psidium cattleianum J. Sabine (Myrtaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant in French Polynesia. The leaves and roots possess many medicinal properties. These effects may be correlated with the presence of antioxidant compounds. Seven flavonoids along with a benzoic acid were isolated from the leaves of P. cattleianum. The compounds indicated strong antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities in ALP, DPPH(·), ABTS(·-) and ORAC assays. This study demonstrates that the leaves of P. cattleianum possess main compounds with interesting antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities, as clarified by four biological assays. Our findings may justify the use of these leaves in the traditional medicine of French Polynesia. Among the total eight known compounds, reynoutrin and luteolin were isolated for the first time from the genus Psidium.

New tricyclic and tetracyclic pyranocoumarins with an unprecedented C-4 substituent. Structure elucidation of tamanolide, tamanolide D and tamanolide P from Calophyllum inophyllum of French Polynesia.

Three new pyranocoumarin derivatives, tamanolide (1), tamanolide D (2) and tamanolide P (3), were isolated from the almond seeds of Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Clusiaceae) grown in French Polynesia. These compounds, having an unprecedented C-4 isobutyl substituent, have been characterized as a new class of pyranocoumarins called tamanolides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques (COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC) in association with MS (HR-ESI-MS) data analysis.

Structures of cadinane- and guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids from Enterospermum madagascariensis (Baill.) Homolle.

Three new cadinane- and guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids, 2-hydroxy-10-epi-zonarene 1, 2, 15-dihydroxycalamenene 2 and guaia-4, 6-dien-3-one 3, were isolated from the wood of Enterospermum madagascariensis (Rubiaceae) grown in Madagascar. Their structures were established from concerted application of 2D NMR techniques including gs-COSY, gs-HMQC, gs-HMBC and NOESY.

Structures of new secofriedelane and friedelane acids from Calophyllum inophyllum of French Polynesia.

Three new friedelane-type triterpenoids, 3,4-secofriedelan-3,28-dioic acid (1), 27-hydroxyacetate canophyllic acid (2) and 3-oxo-27-hydroxyacetate friedelan-28-oic acid (3), were isolated from the leaves of Calophyllum inophyllum (Clusiaceae) grown in French Polynesia. Their structures were established by the concerted application of 2D NMR techniques including gs-COSY, gs-HMQC and gs-HMBC.

[Study of the antimicrobial action of various essential oils extracted from Malagasy plants. II: Lauraceae]. / Contribution à l'étude de l'action antimicrobienne de quelques huiles essentielles extraites de plantes malgaches. II: Les lauracees.

The microbial growth inhibitory properties of some Lauraceae essential oils, Laurus nobilis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) and Ravensara anisata were studied by the determination of their respective M.I.C. (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration). Five bacterial strains, one fungi and two yeasts were used to evaluate the essential oils inhibitory capacities. These vegetable extracts, with decrease activity, were range also: C. zeylanicum--bark greater than R. anisata--bark greater than C. zeylanicum--leaves greater than L. nobilis greater than R. anisata--leaves. The essential oils extracted from cinnamon and R. anisata--bark were very interesting by their antifungic activities.