Antifungal constituents of Melicope borbonica

Phytother Res. 2004 Jul;18(7):542-5. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1482.

Abstract

Fractionation of extracts of the leaves of Melicope borbonica (syn. Euodia borbonica var. borbonica), a medicinal plant from the Réunion Island that is traditionally used for wound healing and other ailments, afforded an acetophenone (xanthoxylin) and two coumarins, scoparone and limettin, as the major constituents. All three compounds exhibited moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Penicillium expansum, in accordance with the traditional use of the plant. Moreover, 2,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone (methylxanthoxylin), three other coumarins [7-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)-6-methoxycoumarin, cedrelopsin and psoralen], two sesquiterpenes (alpha-curcumene and 3,6-epidioxy-1,10-bisaboladiene), eugenol, methyleugenol and a lignan (sesamin) were isolated. None of the isolated constituents exhibited antiin fl ammatory activity in vitro. No alkaloids were detected.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Penicillium / drug effects*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Plant Leaves
  • Rutaceae*
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Plant Extracts