Chemical Constituents from Ficus sagittifolia Stem Bark and Their Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

The phytochemical investigation of the ethylacetate fraction of an ethanolic extract obtained from the stem bark of Ficus sagittifolia (Moraceae) led to the isolation of four flavonoids: (2R)-eriodictyol (1), 2′- hydroxygenistein (2), erycibenin A (3), and genistein (4); a dihydrobenzofuran: moracin P (5); a coumarin: peucedanol (6); and an apocarotenoid terpenoid: dihydrophaseic acid (7). These were identified via 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and ultra-high-resolution liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-QTOF MS). Moracin P (5) is being reported for the first time in the genus Ficus, while the others are known compounds (1–4 and 6–7) isolated previously from the genus but being reported for the first time from the species F. sagittifolia. Their antimicrobial activity against various pathogens (five bacteria: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi; two fungi: Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) was tested. The mixture of genistein and moracin P (4+5) exhibited strong activity against K. pneumoniae (MIC < 0.0039 mg/mL), whereas dihydrophaseic acid (7) was the most active against P. aeruginosa and A. niger (MIC = 0.0078 and <0.0039 mg/mL, respectively). These compounds might be considered potential antimicrobial agents with the potential to be starting points for the development of antimicrobial drugs.

Alstoboonine, an Ulean-Type Indole Alkaloid from Alstonia boonei Leaves

“…Spectra for compounds 5 – 7 and 9 showed a highly similar pattern, suggesting the same configuration at C-3, C-7 and C-15. This was confirmed by comparison of the experimental ECD curves with spectra simulated by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) computation using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G­(d,p) basis set. , Figure shows the simulated and experimental spectra of compounds 8 and 9 .…”

“…Simulation of ECD spectra was performed in the same way as previously reported . The depicted ECD curves were obtained by applying and summing up Gaussian shape functions with a bandwidth at 1/ e height σ = 0.125 eV to each electronic transition vector (transition energies ( E in eV) and rotatory strengths ( R , dipole length in cgs)) obtained from TDDFT calculations on the fully optimized molecular structure (lowest energy conformer) using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G­(d,p) basis set, performed with Gaussian 03 .…”

Bacterial community structure and metabolites after ensiling paper mulberry mixed with corn or wheat straw

“…Moracin P was the only metabolite that was downregulated in the wheat straw-treated group (in a dose-dependent manner). Moracin P was extracted from Ficus sagittifolia (Moraceae family) and demonstrated antibacterial activity against various bacteria such as E. coli and P. aeruginosa (Taiwo et al, 2023). Paper mulberry belongs to the Moraceae family, and our results showed that the addition of corn or wheat straw increased the relative abundance of Enterobacter.…”