Planta Med 1997; 63(3): 268-270
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957671
Letters

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Phenolic and Antibacterial Constituents of Vahlia capensis

Runner R. T. Majinda1 , Modisa Motswaledi2 , Roger D. Waigh3 , Peter G. Waterman3
  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, P/Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana
  • 2Institute of Health Sciences, Box 985, Gaborone, Botswana
  • 3Phytochemistry Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Gl 1XW.U.K.
Further Information

Publication History

1996

1996

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

The n-butanol fraction of Vahlia capensis yielded kaempferol, quercetin, afzelin, astragalin, quercitrin, iso-quercitrin, rutin, gallic acid, chiro-inositol, dulcitol, and a novel biflavonoid, VC-15B (vahlia biflavone). The compounds were identified using ID and 2D NMR techniques and FABMS. Vahlia biflavone and gallic acid were isolated, using bioassay-guided procedure and identified as the antibacterial components. Both compounds showed activity against Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Vahlia biflavone gave MIC values of 15.3 µg/ml and 30.6 µg/ml against S. aureus and B. subtilis, respectively while gallic acid gave a value of 71.3 µg/ml for both organisms.

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