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Planta Med 1979; 37(12): 358-360
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1097349
Research Articles

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Moronic Acid, a Simple Triterpenoid Keto Acid with Antimicrobial Activity Isolated from Ozoroa mucronata1

M. Hostettmann–Kaldas, K. Nakanishi
  • Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, USA.
1 For a general account on the isolation of bioactivc compounds from tropical plants see the following: NAKANISHI, K., in Natural Products and the Protection of Plants. Pontificae Academiae Scientiarum Scripta Varia, Vol. 41, p. 85, Vatican, 1977; KUBO, I., K. NAKANISHI, in Host Plant Resistance to Pests, p. 165, ACS Symposium Series, No. 62, 1977; NAKANISHI, K., I. KUBO., Israel J. Chem. 16, 28 (1977).
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Publication Date:
13 January 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Root bark extract of the East African medicinal plant Ozoroa mucronata showed antimicrobial activity against Gram–positive bacteria. Fractionation of the extract following the results of bioassay led to isolation of the active factor C30H46O3. Spectroscopic studies indicated the olean–18–ene keto acid structure 1 („moronic acid”), isolated for the first time in nature. The relatively simple structure of this bioactive triterpene is noted.

Key Word Index

Ozoroa mucronata - Anacardiaceae - Moronic Acid ;Oleanene Keto Acid - Antibacterial