Planta Med 2009; 75 - PJ80
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234885

Investigation of bioactive compounds in the genus Garcinia (Guttiferae) of Cameroon

B Biloa Messi 1, 2, R Ho 2, A Meli Lannang 3, JG Tangmouo 1, 2, A Marston 2, K Hostettmann 2
  • 1Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • 2Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, EPGL, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
  • 3Department of Chemistry, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Maroua, P.O.Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon

The very high cost of imported drugs coupled with the inadequacy of modern health care personnel and infrastructures excludes a very large majority of the Third World population from any modern health care program. Thus, traditional medicine remains and will remain for a long time, the main source and method of health care for most developing countries. The genus Garcinia (Guttiferae) which comprises 200 species is widespread in the tropical regions and 21 species of Garcinia are found in Cameroon [1]. Three of these, G. epunctata, G. brevipedicellata and G. preussii, are indigenous medicinal plants of Cameroon [1], and were screened for their activities in simple benchtop tests. Biologically active compounds belonging to the triterpenoid, xanthone and flavonoid classes have been found in the genus Garcinia [2]. Some of these exhibit a wide large of biological and pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial and antioxidant action [2]. As no phytochemical investigation of G. preussii has been reported so far, this specie was selected for further study. Antioxidant activity was investigated by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging on TLC plates. A TLC bioautographic method for the detection of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was also performed. The screening test was able to detect inhibition of acethylcholinesterase (AChE) and positive antioxidant activity by compounds present in the hexane extract of the fruit. Thus, several compounds responsible for these activities were isolated from this part, using usual chromatographic methods. With the aid of spectroscopic methods (IR, RMN 1H, RMN 13C, SM, HMQC, HMBC, COSY) and by comparaison with information available in the literature, three of these compounds have been identified respectively as Garcinol, isogarcinol, and guttiferone E

References: [1] Guedje, N.M. et al. « Le genre Garcinia au Cameroun: diversité et utilisations traditionnelles » [on line] available on: http://carpe.umd.edu/resources/Documents/report-guedje_chaungueu.pdf.

[2] Waffo, A.F.K. et al. (2006) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 54:448-451.