BackgroundHelichrysum species are used extensively for stress-related ailments and as dressings for wounds normally encountered in circumcision rites, bruises, cuts and sores. It has been reported that Helichysum species are used to relief abdominal pain, heart burn, cough, cold, wounds, female sterility, menstrual pain.ResultsFrom the extracts of Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench, six known compounds were isolated and identified. They were 7, 4′-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-flavanone (1), 6′-methoxy-2′,4, 4′-trihydroxychalcone (2), 6′-methoxy-2′,4-dihydroxychalcone -4′-O-β-D-glucoside (3), apigenin (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (5), kaur-16-en-18-oic acid (6) while two known compounds 3,5,7-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (12), 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (13) together with a mixture of phytosterol were isolated from the methanol extract of Helichrysum mechowianum Klatt. All the compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods, and by comparison with literature data. Both extracts and all the isolates were screened for the protease inhibition, antibacterial and antifungal activities. In addition, the phytochemical profiles of both species were investigated by ESI-MS experiments.ConclusionsThese results showed that the protease inhibition assay of H. foetidum could be mainly attributed to the constituents of flavonoids glycosides (3, 5) while the compound (13) from H. mechowianum contributes to the stomach protecting effects. In addition, among the antibacterial and antifungal activities of all the isolates, compound (6) was found to possess a potent inhibitor effect against the tested microorganisms. The heterogeneity of the genus is also reflected in its phytochemical diversity. The differential bioactivities and determined constituents support the traditional use of the species. Molecular modelling was carried out by computing selected descriptors related to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET).Graphical abstractCompounds isolated from Helichrysum species (Compositae).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13065-015-0108-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aims: Discovering new lead compounds against cancer and bacterial infections is a crucial step to ensuring a sustainable global pipeline for new effective drugs. These study focuses on the isolation of secondary metabolites of methanol extract from the seeds of Manilkara zapota (Sapotaceae) a Cameroonian medicinal plant. Study Design: According to the literature, plants of the genus Manilkara are potential sources of antibacterial and anticancer secondary metabolites. Methodology: The air-dried and powdered seeds (1.8 kg) of M. zapota was extracted at room temperature for 72 h with a mixture of CH 2 Cl 2 /methanol (1/1). The extract was concentrated to dryness under vacuum and the residue was subjected to repeated column chromatographic separation. The structures of the isolates were established by means of spectroscopic methods.

Aims: Discovering new lead compounds against cancer and bacterial infections is a crucial step to ensuring a sustainable global pipeline for new effective drugs. This study focus on the isolation of secondary metabolites of methanol extract from the bark of Manilkara zapota (Sapotaceae) a Cameroonian medicinal plant. Study Design: According to the literature, plants of the genus Manilkara are potential sources of antibacterial and anticancer secondary metabolites. Methodology: The air-dried and powdered bark (4.0 kg) of M. zapota was extracted at room temperature for 72 h with a methanol. The extract was concentrated to dryness under vacuum and the residue was subjected to repeated column chromatographic separation. The structures of the

Fractionation of the methanol extract of the leaves of Oricia renieri and Oricia suaveolens (Rutaceae) led to the isolation of 13 compounds including the hitherto unknown furoquinoline alkaloid named 6,7-methylenedioxy-5-hydroxy-8-methoxy-dictamnine (1) and a flavanone glycoside named 5-hydroxy-4'-methoxy-7-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1‴→5″)-β-D-apiofuranosyl]-flavanoside (2), together with 11 known compounds (3-13). The structures of the compounds were determined by comprehensive analyses of their 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectral data and comparison. All compounds isolated were examined for their activity against human carcinoma cell lines. The alkaloids 1, 5, 12, 13 and the phenolic 2, 8, 11 tested compounds exhibited non-selective moderate cytotoxic activity with IC50 8.7-15.9 μM whereas compounds 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10 showed low activity.

Thirteen compounds (<b>1</b>‒<b>13</b>) were isolated and identified during phytochemical analysis of the leaves and stem bark of <i>Guibourtia ehie</i> (A. Chev) J. Leonard. Spectroscopic and spectrometric methods and the comparison of their results with those given in the literature were used to ascertain their structures. Furthermore, the acetylation of 3,3′-di-<i>O</i>-methylellagic acid 4′-<i>O</i>-β-D-xylopyranoside (<b>2</b>) afforded a new derivative 3,3′-di-<i>O</i>-methylellagic acid 4′-<i>O</i>-β-D-(4,2′′,4′′-triacetyl)-xylopyranoside (<b>2a</b>). Extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds were assessed for their antioxidant, urease, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Compound <b>1</b> demonstrated potent antioxidant activity in the DPPH with an IC₅₀ value of 36.4 ± 0.2 µM, while rhaponticin (<b>3</b>), 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (<b>4</b>), and taraxerol (<b>6</b>) exhibited a strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ values of 35.5 ± 0.1, 25.5 ± 0.2 and 43.4 ± 0.3 µM, respectively. The present study enriches the chemistry of <i>Guiboutia ehie</i> and provides further evidence on its bioactive constituents, which might help in the development of hypoglycaemic drugs.