Planta Med 2010; 76 - P056
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264354

A new tetralone from Diospyros cauliflora

W Auamcharoen 1, A Chandrapatya 2, W Naengchomnong 3, A Kijjoa 4
  • 1Universidade do Porto, Química, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar-CIIMAR, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099–003 Porto, Portugal
  • 2Faculty of Agriculture of Kasetsart University, Entomology, Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchuk, 10900 Bangkok, Thailand
  • 3Burapha University, Chemistry, Bangsaen, 20131 Chonburi, Thailand
  • 4Universidade ddo Porto-CIMAR, Chemistry, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel SalazarLargo do Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099003 Porto, Portugal

Diospyros is a large genus of the mainly tropical trees within the Ebenaceae family, many of which possess considerable economic importance. Although many species of this genus have been intensively investigated [1], Diospyros cauliflora Blume has never been previously investigated for its chemical constituents. Chemical investigation of the chloroform soluble fraction of the methanol extract of its roots has led to isolation of lupeol, betulinic acid, nicotinamide, 7-hydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone (1), 2,5-dimethyl-7-hydroxychromone (2) and a new compound 3,4-dihydro-4β,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-2α-methyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (3). The new compound 3 appears to have been formed by reduction of 2-methyl-5-methoxy-6-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (4), a representative of the characteristic naphthaquinones of the Diospyros species [2]. However, the occurrence of compound 3 within this thoroughly investigated genus has no precedence.

Fig.1

Acknowledgements: This work is supported by CIIMAR pluriannual. W. Auamcharoen thanks Thailand Research Fund (TRF) for the Royal Golden Jubilee Scholarship PHD/0163/2546.

References: 1. Mallavadhani, U et al. (1998) Phytochemistry 49: 901.

2. Okuyama, E et al. (1999). Chem. Pharm. Bull. 47, 1473.