Phytochemical, Antimicrobial and Antiplasmodial Investigations of Terminalia brownii.

Phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of stem bark extract of an African medicinal plant Terminalia brownii led to the isolation of a new oleanane-type triterpenoid, along with seven known triterpenoids, seven ellagic acid derivatives, and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-sitosterol. The new compound was identified using spectroscopic methods, notably 1D- and 2D NMR, as 3β,24-O-ethylidenyl-2α,19α-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities. Two compounds with a galloyl group (4 and 6) were found to be active against chloroquine sensitive (D6) and chloroquine resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum, whereas three ellagic acid derivatives (5-7) were found active against three species of fungi and one species of bacteria.