No abstract

Chemical analyses of the stem bark of Erythrina sigmoidea (Fabaceae) yielded a new flavonoid, designated sigmoidin L (1), the known erythrinasinate, E-p-coumaric acid docosylester, and 3′-prenylnaringinin, reported here for the first time for the stem bark of E.sigmoidea. The structure of 1 was established by chemical and spectroscopic means as 5,7, 3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-5′-[3″-methyl-4″-oxobut-(1″Z) enyl]flavanone. Sigmoidin L exhibited significant antibacterial potency in vitro against Staphylococus aureus and Proteus vulgaris.

Chemical analysis of the stem bark of Erythrina sigmoidea (Leguminoseae) yielded two known isoflavones, 6,8-diprenylgenisteine (3) and warangalone (4) as well as a new triterpenoid saponin designated sigmoiside E (1). Its structure was established by chemical and spectroscopic means as 16-O-β-Dgalactopyranosyl maniladiol (1). Sigmoiside E exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria.

No abstract

The methanol (M) extract of the fruit-rind of Picralima nitida (PN) (Apocynaceae) was tested for its anti-diarrhoeal activity. Like loperamide (3 mg/kg body weight), a single oral dose of PN-M (375, 750 mg/kg body weight) produced a significant decrease in the frequency of defecation and severity of diarrhoea. To understand the mechanism of its antidiarrhoeal activity, its effect was further evaluated on intestinal transit; castor oil-induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling) and electrolyte concentration in the small intestinal fluid. PN-M produced a decrease in intestinal transit (18.81-21.86%) as compared to castor oil treated animals. Unlike atropine, PN-M significantly inhibited castor oil-induced enteropooling. However it did not alter the electrolyte concentration in intestinal fluid as compared to castor oil treated rats.