Aristolic Acid Derivatives from the Bark of Antidesma ghaesembilla

Abstract

is an important medicinal and food plant in many Asian countries. Ten substances could be isolated from the dichloromethane and methanol extract: sitostenone (), daucosterol (), chavibetol (), asperphenamate (), protocatechuic acid (), vanillic acid-4---D-glucoside (), 1---D-glucopyranosyl-3--methyl-phloroglucinol (), and aristolic acid II-8---D-glucoside (), and two new aristolic acid derivatives, 10-amino-5,7-dimethoxy-aristolic acid II (= 6-amino-9,11-dimethoxyphenanthro[3,4-]-1,3-dioxole-5-carboxylic acid; ) and 5,7-dimethoxy-aristolochic acid II (= 9,11-dimethoxy-6-nitrophenantro[3,4-]-1,3-dioxole-5-carboxylic acid; ). Exposure to humans of some of these compounds is associated with a severe disease today known as aristolochic acid nephropathy. Therefore, the traditional usage of this plant has to be reconsidered carefully.

Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review of the Genus Antidesma

“…Simple phenolics from Antidesma plants usually contain only 1 benzene ring as their carbon backbone with 2-4 substituted groups of hydroxyl (OH), methoxyl (OCH 3 ), carboxylic (COOH), aldehyde (CHO), or glycosyl types. [29][30][31][32][33][34] Some compounds are also either alkylated, alkenated, or prenylated (28,29,37,38,40, and 41) (Figure 2).…”

“…Schäfer and colleagues reported the natural occurrence of aristolochic acids ( 4 - 10 ) from A. ghaesembilla barks. 30 These compounds were first isolated from Aristolochiaceae plant family and notorious for their nephrotoxicity and carcinogenesis in the upper urinary tract, especially the derivatives containing nitro group and methoxyl group at C-8 position. 28 Further analytical studies should be conducted to quantify the contents of aristolochic acids in plant materials and herbal products, in order to ensure the safety for consumers.…”