Chemical Constituents of 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴

Abstract

In a continuation of our studies on search for biologically active compounds from Sri Lankan plants the present study was carried out on the fruits of 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 (Park.) Fosb .. 𝘈. 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 of the family Moraceae is a tree of moderate size, commonly known as bread fruit growing in tropical countries[The abstract also includes scientific formulas and symbols to represent key concepts and findings].

The dried powdered fruits of 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 were defatted with n-hexane and extracted with ethyl acetate and methanol at room temperature. Preliminary investigation indicated the presence of antifungal active compounds against 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 in both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts in the same Rf region by TLC bioautography method. In order to isolate antifungal active compounds, both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were combined and separated by a combination of chromatographies over column of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, reverse phase silica gel and reverse phase HPLC to give seven compounds. Four of them were identified as (𝘌)-4-(3-methyl-E-but-1-enyl)-3,5,2', 4'- tetrahydroxystilbene (1), (𝘌)-3,5,2',4' -tetrahydroxystilbene (2), 2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)- 5,7-dihydroxychroman-4-one (3) and 2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl) benzofuran-4, 6-diol (4). Structure elucidation of isolates was based on the detailed analysis of ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, MS and direct comparison of the reported data. All these compounds showed radical scavenging properties towards 2,2' -diphenyl-I-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical by TLC bio-autography method. Structure elucidation of the other three compounds and determination of antioxidant activity (IC₅₀) and antifungal activity (MIC) of isolates are in progress.