BIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON NITROGEN - CONTAINING COMPOUNDS FROM CAMPYLOSPERMUM OLIVERIANUM AND CAMPYLOSPERMUM SULCATUM (OCHNACEAE)

摘要

Objective: Campylospermum oliverianum and C . sulcatum (Ochnaceae) are considered conspecific by some reports. Methods: Following phytochemical analyses on those species, biological tests were carried. Results: Phytotchemical analyses led to the isolation of three known nitrogenous compounds: two cyanoglucosides named dhurrin and menisdaurin and an indole alkaloid, serotobenine. These nitrogen-containing compounds showed potent cytotoxic activities against the microcrustacean Artemia salina (brine shrimp), when two of them exhibited efficient bactericidal effects against a few Gram cocci. This newest co-occurrence of both α- and γ-hydroxynitrile glucosides within the same species suggested another biosynthetic pathway for putative tyrosine-derived non-cyanogenic cyanoglucosides. Conclusion: This study does not recommend an identical chemical profile for the two species, hence they might not be regarded as the same. The biosynthetic pathway of numerous putative tyrosine-derived cyanoglucosides is supported by the isolated compounds from C . sulcatum . The taxonomical value of serotobenine in species of the Campylospermum genus as well as the other one of cyanoglucosides in angiosperms is once more highlighted. Keywords: Campylospermum , cyclohex(en)yl cyanoglucosides, menisdaurin, serotobenine, biosynthesis, chemotaxonomy, antimicrobial assay, brine shrimp toxicity.