The first natural products investigation of the Hawaiian endemic plant Coprosma ernodeoides or Nene Bush ('Aiakanene)

The Nene bush (Coprosma ernodeoides) or 'Aiakanene in Hawaiian is a rambling perennial prostrate shrub endemic to Hawaii. Worldwide, mainly the Pacific Islands, there are around 110 species in the genus the majority of which (55) are to be found in New Zealand. The plant has very small leaves (2 – 3 mm) that grow densely along branches that can be up to three meters long. At various times of the year the bush produces shiny black edible berries (5 – 8 mm dia) that were and are used by native Hawaiians as laxatives. Our interest was drawn to this plant because of its distinctive berries, the fact that it is endemic to Hawaii and finally because there are no reported natural products investigation of any parts of the plant. The data presented on this poster result from investigations of methanol extracts made from the leaves and from the berries that both demonstrated antioxidant properties in DPPH and FRAP assays. From the berries the three known iridoid glycosides 1 – 3 were isolated and from the leaves the known iridoid glycoside 4.