A new 3,8''-flavanone-flavonol dimer gnidiflavanone-flavonol (1) and 10 known compounds (2-11), including four rare primula-type flavones 2-5, were isolated from the roots of Gnidia apiculata. Compounds 2-5 and 7 were reported for the first time from the plant family Thymelaeceae. Structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HSQC and ROESY) and mass spectrometry, as well as by the comparison with literature data. The crude roots extract and isolated compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities. Among isolated compounds, 6-hydroxyflavone (4) and 6-O-acetylflavone (4a) showed antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum.
Keywords: 3,8′′-flavanone-flavonol dimer; Gnidia apiculata; antiplasmodial; gnidiflavanone-flavonol; primula-type flavones.