Planta Med 2011; 77 - P_45
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273574

A New Lignan, Phytochemical Study and Antimicrobial Activities of Zanthoxylum monophyllum

MM Radwan 1, 3, RR Guzmán 1, LC Fulks 1, CL Burandt 1, SA Ross 1, 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University 38677, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, University 38677, USA
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Zanthoxylum monophyllum (Lam.) P.Wilson (Rutaceae) is a perennial aromatic shrub that ranges in the Caribbean from Hispaniola through the Lesser Antilles islands and also found in Venezuela, Colombia and Costa Rica [1]. From the leaves and bark of Zanthoxylum monophyllum, a new lignan named 3-methoxy-3',4'-methylenedioxylignan-4,8,9,9'-tetraol (1) has been isolated along with 22 known compounds, fifteen of them reported for the first time from Z. monophyllum. Their chemical structures were elucidated using detailed spectroscopic studies and chemical analysis. All compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial, and antiprotozoal activities. Alkaloids bis [6-(5,6-dihydro-chelerythrinyl)] ether (2) and 6-ethoxy-chelerythrine (4) both exhibited strong activity against Aspergillus fumigatus (IC50 values of 0.90 and 1.6 µM, respectively) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (IC50 values of 1.0, and 4.0µM, respectively). Compound 4-methoxy-N-methyl-2-quinolone (9) exhibited significant activity against MRSA (IC50 value of 8.0µM) while, compound 5,8,4'-trihydroxy-3,7,3'-trimethoxyflavone (10) showed weak activity against Plasmodium falciparum.

Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to Dr. Bharanti Avula for the HRESIMS data and to Dr. Melissa Jacob and Dr. Shabana Khan for the antimicrobial and antiprotozoal testing.

References: [1] Little Jr. EL, Wadsworth FH, (1964) Rue Family (Rutaceae). Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; Agricultural Handbook No. 249; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, pp 232.