Triterpenoids and Semisynthetic Derivatives with Antimicrobial Activities from the Leaves of Caloncoba glauca (Flacourtiaceae) ()
Activity, Structure-Activity Relationship
1. Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the major public health concerns of the 21st century that threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi that are no longer susceptible to the common medicines used for their treatment [1]. The rapid emergence of resistant microorganisms is occurring worldwide, undermining many other advances in health and medicine. The situation is most dire in less developed countries, where the uncontrolled use of antibiotics, often coupled with a lack of proper healthcare infrastructure, leads to high morbidity rates [2]. Thus, the need of searching and developing new therapeutic agents capable of overcoming the resistance mechanisms of microbes is imperative [3], and plants with medicinal properties constitute a rich source of biologically active compounds. Triterpenoids, a class of compounds widely distributed in nature have shown diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial properties [4] [5]. Structure-activity studies have revealed that alterations in key carbons may enhance biological activity and reduce cytotoxicity [6]. Previous chemical studies of some Caloncoba species have proved this genus to be a rich source of triterpenoids [7] - [15]. Caloncoba glauca (P. Beauv.) Gilg (Flacourtiaceae) is a tree up to 15 m tall found in tropical Africa [16]. Its leaves are used as purgative and against inflammations and skin diseases [11]. Many microbial species including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are capable of causing various skin and other organs infections. Skin lesions due to C. neoformans are present in almost 5% of patients with cryptococcal meningitis [17] and the frequency is greater in liver transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus [18] or in patients infected with serotype D [19]. In most cases, skin lesions are due to hematogenous spread (i.e., secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis). This prompted us, in connection with our search for bioactive compounds [13] [20] [21] [22], to reinvestigate the leaves of C. glauca in view of evaluating its antimicrobial properties. In the present paper, we describe the structure elucidation of five new semi-synthetic cycloartanes (1a - 1d) and friedelane-type (5a) triterpenoids obtained from the chemical transformations of two out of the nine triterpenoids isolated, and the antimicrobial activity of both the naturally occurring triterpenoids and the semi-synthetic derivatives. The structure-activity relationship is also discussed.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Plant Material
C. glauca was selected on the basis of its utilization in traditional medicine. Its leaves were harvested in Bangang-Wabane village, Cameroon, in May 2016. The sample was authenticated by Mr. Francois NANA, a botanist of the National Herbarium of Cameroon (Yaounde, Cameroon), where a voucher specimen (55064/HNC) was deposited.
2.2. Extraction and Isolation
The air-dried and powdered leaves of C. glauca (1.2 kg) were extracted with methanol (3 × 10 L) for 72 h at room temperature to yield a crude extract (90 g) after evaporation of solvent. Part of this extract (85 g) was subjected to column chromatography (8 cm × 60 cm) over silica gel (300 - 400 mesh) eluted with gradients of n-Hex/EtOAc (90:10, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70) then EtOAc/MeOH (100:0, 90:10, 70:30, 50:50, 0:100) and 68 fractions of 300 mL each were collected. These fractions were combined on the basis of their TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) profiles into five major fractions A-E: A (9 g, 1 - 14), B (14 g, 15 - 28), C (16 g, 29 - 43), D (12 g, 44 - 53) and E (23 g, 54 - 68). Fraction A with a fatty appearance was not further investigated. Fraction B (14 g) was separated on a silica gel (100 - 200 mesh) column chromatography using a gradient of n-Hex/Me2CO (100:0 to 70:30) to yield caloncobalactone C (8, 12 mg). Fraction C (16 g) was separated on a silica gel (100 - 200 mesh) column eluted with gradients of n- Hex/EtOAc (90:10 to 0:100) then EtOAc/MeOH (95:5 to 0:100) and subfractions C.I to C.IV were obtained. Successive column chromatography of subfraction C.I (2.5 g) over silica gel (100 - 200 mesh) and Sephadex LH-20 eluted respectively with gradients of n-Hex/Me2CO (90:10 to 100:0) and isocratic CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) solvents mixtures afforded glaucartanoic acid B (4, 9.5 mg). Repeated purifications of sub fraction C.II (4 g) on silica gel (100 - 200 mesh) column chromatography eluted with CH2Cl2/Me2CO (100:0 to 50:50) afforded caloncobic acid A (6, 14 mg). Subfraction C.III (3.5 g) was subjected successively to a silica gel (100 - 200 mesh) column chromatography eluted with CH2Cl2/Me2CO (100:0 to 70:30) and passage over Sephadex LH-20 (CH2Cl2/MeOH, 1:1) to give glaucalactone (3, 19 mg). Sub fraction C.IV (1.5 g) precipitated in n-Hex/Me2CO (80:20) and the deriving powder was purified over a Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography eluted with CH2Cl2/MeOH, (1:1) to afford glaucalactone B (9, 8.4 mg). Fraction D (12 g) was chromatographed on a silica gel (100 - 200 mesh) column eluted with gradients of n-Hex/EtOAc (90:10 to 0:100) then EtOAc/MeOH (95:5 to 0:100) to give three subfractions: D.I, D.II and D.III. Subfraction D.II (7 g) was subjected to a silica gel (100 - 200 mesh) column chromatography eluted with n-Hex/Me2CO (from 90:10 to 0:100) and afforded sub fractions D.II.1 - D.II.3. Successive chromatography of subfraction D.II.2 (2.3 g) over a silica gel column eluted with n-Hex/Me2CO (70:30 to 100:0) and Sephadex LH-20 eluted with CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) yielded glaucatarnoic acid A (1, 170 mg) and 3β,21β-dihydroxy-30-nor-(D:A)-friedoolean-20(29)-en-27-oic acid (5, 30 mg). Subfraction D.II.3 (1.8 g) was purified similarly to D.II.2 to furnish caloncobalactone (2, 14.3 mg). Fraction E (23 g) precipitated in EtOAc. Purification of the filtered powder over a silica gel column chromatography eluted with EtOAc/MeOH (95:5) followed by gel permeation over a Sephadex LH-20 column using CH2Cl2/MeOH, (1:1) gave caloncobic acid C (7, 8.3 mg).
2.3. Chemical Transformations and Purifications
2.3.1. Acetylation of Glaucartarnoic Acid A (1)
A sample (15 mg, 30.7 mmol) of glaucartanoic acid A (1) was dissolved in pyridine-Ac2O (3 ml, 1:1). Catalytic amount of 4-DMAP was added and the mixture was kept overnight in darkness at room temperature (Scheme 1). The reaction mixture was poured in cold water at 5˚C and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with 2 M HCl, then 1 M NaHCO3 and dried using a rotary evaporator. Column chromatography over silica gel (n-Hex/Me2CO, 9:1) gave 24-acetylglaucartanoic acid A (1b, 12.7 mg, 80%).
This reaction was repeated with the same amount of reactants but was heated at 60˚C for 4 hours (Scheme 1). The reaction mixture worked-up in the same conditions yielded diacetylglaucartanoic acid A (1a, 14.3 mg, 81%) and a very little amount of 1b.
Diacetylglaucartanoic acid A (1a): White powder (from Me2CO);
− 49.4 (c 0.11, MeOH); 1H (400 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C (100 MHz, CD3OD) NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2 respectively; positive ESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 596 [M + H + Na]+ (6), 573 [M + H]+ (5), 513 [M − AcO]+ (100), 453 [M − H − 2AcO]+ (5); HRESIMS m/z 595.3612 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C34H52O7Na, 595.3610).
24-acetylglaucartanoic acid A (1b): White powder (from Me2CO);
− 36.9 (c 0.12, MeOH); 1H (400 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C (100 MHz, CD3OD) NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2 respectively; positive ESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 531 [M + H]+ (5), 553 [M + Na]+ (8), 513 [M + H − H2O]+ (100); HRESIMS m/z 553.3505 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C32H50O6Na, 553.3505).
![]()
Scheme 1. Semisynthesis of 1a and 1b from glaucartanoic acid A (1).
![]()
Table 1. 1H-NMR data of compounds 1a-1d and 5a.
ovOverlapped signals within a column; *Recorded with a 400 MHz instrument; **Recorded with a 500 MHz instrument.
![]()
![]()
Table 2. 13C-NMR data of compounds 1a-1d and 5a.
*Recorded with a 400 MHz instrument; **Recorded with a 500 MHz instrument.
2.3.2. Methylation of Glaucatarnoic Acid A (1)
Compound 1 (50 mg, 102.4 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (5 mL) and dry NaH (2.5 mg) was added, followed by MeI (25 mg) (Scheme 2). The mixture was allowed to reflux over a water bath at 60˚C for 24 hours. The solvent was distilled off and the residue poured into water. The oil formed from the reaction mixture was extracted with EtOAc, then washed and dried. Evaporation of the organic solvent left a residue which was separated over a column of silica gel (n-Hex/Me2CO, 9:1) to yield glaucartanoic acid A methyl ester (1c, 5.2 mg, 10%) and 24-methoxyglaucartanoic acid A methyl ester (1d, 26.7 mg, 51%).
Glaucartanoic acid A methyl ester (1c): White powder (from Me2CO);
− 17.7 (c 0.10, MeOH); 1H (500 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C (125 MHz, CD3OD) NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2 respectively; positive ESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 503 [M + H]+ (6), 525 [M + Na]+ (100); HRESIMS m/z 503.3733 [M + H]+ (calcd for C31H51O5, 503.3736).
24-methoxyglaucartanoic acid A methyl ester (1d): White powder (from Me2CO);
− 29.7 (c 0.10, MeOH); 1H (500 MHz, CD3OD) and 13C (125 MHz, CD3OD) NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2 respectively; positive ESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 517 [M + H]+ (7), 539 [M + Na]+ (70), 540 [M + H + Na]+ (12); HRESIMS m/z 517.3896 [M + H]+ (calcd for C32H53O5, 517.3893).
2.3.3. Acetylation of 3β,21β-Dihydroxy-30-Nor-(D:A)-Friedoolean-20 (29)-En-27-Oic Acid (5)
Compound 5 (10 mg, 21.83 mmol) was treated at room temperature as described above for 1 and afforded the diacetyl derivative 5a (8.9 mg, 76%) (Scheme 3).
3β,21β-diacetoxy-30-nor-(D:A)-friedoolean-20(29)-en-27-oic acid (5a): White powder (from Me2CO);
+ 18.4 (c 0.10, CHCl3); 1H (400 MHz, CDCl3-CD3OD) and 13C (100 MHz, CDCl3-CD3OD) NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2 respectively; positive ESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 565 [M + Na]+ (50), 483 [M − OAc]+ (100), 423 [M − H − 2OAc]+ (12); HRESIMS m/z 565.3503 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C33H50O6Na, 565.3505).
2.4. Chromatography Methods
Column chromatography was performed on silica gel G (100 - 200 and 300 - 400 mesh, Qingdao Haiyang Chemical Co., Ltd., People’s Republic of China) and Sephadex LH-20 (40 - 70 μm, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB, Sweden). TLC was carried out on precoated silica gel plates (Qingdao Haiyang Chemical Co.), and spots were visualized by heating the plates at 90˚C after they were dipped into a 10% ethanolic H2SO4 solution. Solvents were distilled prior to use.
![]()
Scheme 2. Semisynthesis of 1c and 1d from glaucartanoic acid A (1).
![]()
Scheme 3. Semisynthesis of 5a from 3β,21β-dihydroxy-30-nor-(D:A)-friedoolean-20 (29)-en-27-oic acid (5).
2.5. Analytical Analyses
Optical rotations were measured with a JASCO P-1020 digital polarimeter. The NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker AV-400 or DRX-500 NMR spectrometers. Chemical shifts (δ) are expressed in ppm with reference to TMS, and coupling constants (J) are given in Hz. ESIMS and HRESIMS were carried out on an API Qstar time-of-flight spectrometer.
2.6. Antimicrobial Assay
2.6.1. Microorganisms and Growth Conditions
The studied microorganisms consisted of sensitive and multidrug resistant Grampositive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, methicillin sensitive S. aureus MSSA1, methicillin resistant S. aureus MRSA3, methicillin resistant S. aureus MRSA4), Gram-negative bacteria (Shigella flexneri SDINT, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853) and three strains of yeasts (Candida tropicalis PK233, Candida albicans ATCC10231 and Cryptococcus neoformans H99) taken from our laboratory collection. The bacterial and fungal species were grown at 37˚C and maintained on nutrient agar (NA, Conda, Madrid, Spain) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA, Conda) slants respectively.
2.6.2. Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Microbicidal Concentration (MMC)
INT colorimetric assay [23] was performed to assess the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of crude extract and compounds against a panel of yeasts, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Briefly, test samples were first dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The solution obtained was then added to Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) for bacteria or Sabouraud Dextrose Broth (SDB) for yeasts and serially diluted twofold (in a 96-well microplate). One hundred microlitres (100 μL) of inoculum (1.5 × 106 CFU/mL for bacteria and 105 spores/mL for yeasts) prepared in MHB/SDB was added. The plates were covered and agitated to mix the contents of the wells using a plate shaker and incubated at 35˚C for 24 h (for bacteria) or for 48 h (for yeasts). The final concentration of DMSO was 1% and does not affect the microbial growth. Wells containing MHB/SDB, 100 μL of inoculum, and DMSO at a final concentration of 1% served as a negative control. Ciprofloxacin (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany) and nystatin (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) were used as reference drugs for bacteria and yeasts respectively. The MIC values of samples were determined by adding 40 μL of a 0.2 mg/mL p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet solution followed by incubation at 35˚C for 30 min. Viable microorganisms reduced the colourless dye to pink. MIC was defined as the lowest sample concentrations that prevented this change and exhibited complete inhibition of microbial growth. All assays were performed in triplicate and repeated thrice. For the determination of MMC values, a portion of liquid (5 μL) from each well that showed no growth of microorganism was plated on Mueller Hinton Agar or SDA and incubated at 35˚C for 24 h (for bacteria) or 35˚C for 48 h (for yeasts). The lowest concentrations that yielded no growth after these subcultures were taken as the MMC values.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Chemical Analysis
The MeOH extract from the leaves of C. glauca was subjected to column chromatography (CC) over silica gel to afford nine known compounds including glaucartanoic acid A (1: C30H48O5; m/z 488) [11], caloncobalactone B (2: C30H48O6; m/z 504) [12], glaucalactone (3: C29H44O4; m/z 456) [12], glaucartanoic acid B (4: C30H46O5; m/z 486) [11], 3β,21β-dihydroxy-30-nor-(D:A)-friedoolean-20(29)-en-27-oic acid (5: C29H46O4; m/z 458) [8], caloncobic acid A (6: C30H46O4; m/z 470) [12], caloncobic acid C (7: C30H48O6; m/z 504) [13], caloncobalactone C (8: C33H52O5; m/z 528) [13] and glaucalactone B (9: C29H46O4; m/z 458) [13]. Chemical derivatizations including acetylation and methylation of compound 1 and acetylation of compound 5 respectively, afforded five previously unreported semisynthetic derivatives (1a-1b and 5a). The structures of these compounds (Figure 1) were elucidated by the means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, MS and comparison of these data with those reported in the literature.
Compound 1a, obtained from the acetylation reaction of 1 (Scheme 1), was isolated as a white powder in acetone. The molecular formula C34H52O7 was deduced from its HR-ESI-MS which displayed the pseudo-molecular ion peak at m/z 595.3612 [M + Na]+. This mass was 84 mass units higher than that of 1, indicating the addition of two acetyl units as compared to 1. The positive ion mode ESI-MS of 1a also confirmed the presence of two acetoxy groups in the molecule by displaying the ion peaks at m/z 513 [M − OAc]+ and 453 [M − H − 2 OAc]+.
![]()
Figure 1. Structures of isolated compounds (1 - 9) from the leaves of Caloncoba glauca and semisynthetic derivatives (1a - 1d and 5a).
The NMR data of 1a revealed additional signals compared to those of glaucartanoic acid A (1) at δH 2.08 and 1.94 (each 3H, s) in the 1H-NMR spectrum (Table 1) and at δC 172.5, 172.1, 22.2 and 20.9 in the 13C-NMR spectrum (Table 2) assignable to two acetoxy groups. The downfield shift of the H-24 proton signal from δH 3.21 (in compound 1) to δH 5.27 (in 1a) and of C-25 carbon signal from δC 73.0 (in compound 1) to δC 84.2 (in 1a) indicated the locations of the acetoxy groups at C-24 and C-25 respectively. Compound 1a was thus elucidated as 24(S), 25-diacetoxy-3-oxocycloartan-30-oic acid and trivially named diacetylglaucartanoic acid A.
Compound 1b, obtained from the acetylation reaction of 1 (Scheme 1), was isolated as a white powder in acetone. Its molecular formula was determined as C32H50O6 from the pseudo-molecular ion peak observed in its HR-ESI-MS at m/z 553.3505 [M + Na]+. This mass was 42 mass units higher than that of 1, corresponding to the addition of one acetyl unit. The presence of a remaining free hydroxyl group in 1b was further confirmed by the base peak observed at m/z 513 [M − H2O + H]+ in its positive ion mode ESI-MS. Its 1H and 13C NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2) compared to those of compound 1 revealed additional signals at δH 2.08 (3H, s) and δC 172.9 and 21.1 assignable to the acetoxy group. The downfield shift of the H-24 proton signal from δH 3.21 (in 1) to δH 4.78 (in 1b) together with the deshielding of the C-24 carbon signal at δC 80.8 (instead of δC 78.6 in 1) indicated the location of the acetoxy group at C-24. This was further confirmed by the HMBC correlation of H-24 with the carbonyl carbon at δC 172.9. Compound 1b was thus elucidated as a new semi-synthetic derivative named 24-acetylglaucartanoic acid A.
Compound 1c was obtained from the methylation reaction of 1 (Scheme 2), and precipitated as a white powder in acetone. Its HR-ESI-MS displayed a pseudo-molecular ion peak at m/z 525.3573 [M + Na]+ compatible with the molecular formula C31H50O5, indicating an additional methyl group as compared to compound 1. Indeed, the only difference between the NMR data of compound 1c (Table 1 and Table 2) and those of compound 1 was the appearance of signals attributable to a methoxyl group in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of 1c at δH/δC 3.64/51.5. The cross-peak observed in its HMBC spectrum between the methoxyl protons and the carbonyl carbon at δC 178.4 (C-30) revealed the presence of a methyl ester group. Compound 1c was thus elucidated as 24(S), 25-dihydroxy-3-oxocycloartan-30-carboxylic acid methyl ester and trivially named glaucartanoic acid A methyl ester.
Compound 1d, obtained from the methylation reaction of 1 (Scheme 2), was isolated as a white powder in acetone. Its HR-ESI-MS displayed a pseudo-molecular ion peak at m/z 539.3820 [M + Na]+ compatible with the molecular formula C32H52O5, indicating one more methoxyl than compound 1c. The NMR data of 1d (Table 1 and Table 2) confirmed the presence of two methoxyl groups at δH/δC 3.64/51.5 and 3.49/61.4 respectively. Detailed comparison of its 1D NMR spectra with those of compound 1 revealed the shifting of signals at 24-position at δH/δC 2.88/90.7 instead of δH/δC 3.21/78.6 in 1 indicating the location of one of the methoxyl groups at C-24. This was confirmed by the HMBC spectrum where a long-range connectivity was observed between H-24 (δH 2.88) and the methoxyl carbon at δC 61.4 (24-OMe). The HMBC correlation also observed between the second methoxyl signal at δH 3.64 and the carbonyl carbon at δC 178.4 (C-30) proved the existence of a methyl ester functionality at C-30. Compound 1d was thus characterized as 24(S)-methoxy-25-hydroxy-3-oxocycloartan-30-carboxylic acid methyl ester and was trivially named 24-methoxyglaucartanoic acid A methyl ester.
Compound 5a was obtained from the acetylation reaction of 5 (Scheme 3), and precipitated as a white powder in acetone. Its molecular formula was established as C33H50O6 from the HR-ESI-MS displaying the pseudo-molecular ion peak at m/z 565.3503 [M + Na]+. This molecular formula in accordance with the pseudo-molecular mass furthermore 84 mass units higher than that of 5, revealed the addition of two acetyl units in the reaction product. The NMR data of 5a (Table 1 and Table 2) exhibited additional signals of two methyl groups at δH/δC 2.02 (3H, s)/21.5 and 1.99 (3H, s)/21.8 and for two ester carbonyls at δC 172.4 and 171.8 as compared to 5. Notable differences between the NMR data of compounds 5 and 5a also involved the downfield shift of signals at C-3 position from δH/δC 3.65/72.7 in compound 5 to δH/δC 4.83/75.7 in compound 5a, and at position C-21 from δH/δC 4.19/71.5 (in 5) to δH/δC 5.30/74.9 (in 5a). This implied the location of acetoxy groups at C-3 and C-21 positions in compound 5a which was further elucidated as 3β,21β-diacetoxy-30-nor-(D:A)-friedoolean-20(29)-en-27-oic acid.
3.2. Antimicrobial Activity
The MeOH extract, isolated compounds and some new semisynthetic derivatives were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against 9 microorganisms including four Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, methicillin sensitive S. aureus MSSA1, methicillin resistant S. aureus MRSA3, methicillin resistant S. aureus MRSA4), two Gram-negative (Shigella flexneri SDINT, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria and three fungal strains (Candida albicans ATCC10231, Candida tropicalis PK233 and Cryptococcus neoformans H99) (Table 3). The MeOH extract displayed antimicrobial activity towards 9/9 (100%) of tested bacterial and fungal strains with good activity (MIC < 100 μg/mL) [24] against Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella flexneri SDINT ATCC25923. Among the phytochemicals, compounds 3 and 5 were the most active showing moderate activity (10 < MIC ≤ 100 μg/mL) [24] against 5/9 (55.55%) and 6/9 (66.66%) tested microbial species, respectively. As shown in Table 3, ciprofloxacin and nystatin used as standard drugs were more potent against yeasts, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria than all the tested samples. A microbicidal effect with MMC/MIC ratio ≤ 4 was noted for most of the samples (MeOH extract, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 1a, 1b, 1d and 5a) indicating their lethal effect. In general, Gram-negative bacteria were found to be more sensitive to the tested samples when compared with Gram-positive bacteria whereas the bacterial species were resistant as compared to fungal strains. These variations may be due to genetic differences between the microorganisms. The known antimicrobial mechanisms associated to the group of chemicals to which the isolated compounds belong may explain the antimicrobial potency of the MeOH extract. Membrane disruption has been suggested as one of the likely mechanisms of action [25] [26]. This might also explain the antimicrobial activities of isolated triterpenoids and semisynthetic derivatives [25] [26]. Although the fungal strains were more sensitive to the tested compounds than the bacteria strains used in this study, the antibacterial activities of the acetylated (1a and 1b) and the methylated (1d) derivatives of cycloartane 1 were improved compared to that of the original substrate mostly on Gram-negative strains. Meanwhile the O-acetylation at both the C-3 and C-21 positions of friedelane 5 leading to compound 5a induced a decrease in the antibacterial activity on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, but an
![]()
![]()
Table 3. Antimicrobial activity (MIC and MMC in µg/mL) of MeOH extract, isolated compounds, semisynthetic derivatives and reference antimicrobial drugs.
SA ATCC25923: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923; MSSA1: methicillin sensitive S. aureus MSSA1; MRSA3: methicillin resistant S. aureus MRSA3; MRSA4: methicillin resistant S. aureus MRSA4; SF: Shigella flexneri; PA: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; CA ATCC10231: Candida albicans ATCC10231; CT PK233: Candida tropicalis PK233; CN H99: Cryptococcus neoformans H99; MIC: minimum inhibitory concentration; MMC: Minimum microbicidal concentration; /: not determined; *: Ciprofloxacin and nystatin were used as reference drugs for bacteria and yeasts respectively.
increase in the antifungal activity. The lower antibacterial activity mainly on MRSA3 and MRSA4 strains observed for compound 3 with respect to its analogue 5 could arise from lactonization of the C-27 carboxylic group in compound 3. The difference in the antimicrobial activity of compounds having the same basic skeleton highlights the contribution of esterified carboxylic acid group and acetyl substituents in influencing the activity of this series of compounds.
4. Conclusion
Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract from the leaves of C. glauca led to the isolation of nine known triterpenoids (1-9). Chemical transformations carried out on glaucartanoic acid A (1) and 3β,21β-dihydroxy-30-nor-(D:A)-friedoolean-20(29)-en-27-oic acid (5) respectively, afforded five new derivatives (1a-1d and 5a). The MeOH extract displayed antimicrobial activity towards all the tested pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains with good activity (MIC < 100 μg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 and Shigella flexneri SDINT. Compounds 3 and 5 belonging to the friedelane type showed the most potent antimicrobial effect. These results could justify the traditional use of C. glauca in the treatment of skin diseases caused by some of the tested microorganisms.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the University of Dschang and the Ministry of Higher Education (Cameroon) for financing some consumable items used in this work.
Supplementary Material
Supporting information for this article has been uploaded as the electronic supplementary material.
NOTES
*Corresponding authors.
#Of late memory.