Phytochemical Investigation of the Stem Bark of Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae) (I)

Abstract

Securidaca longipedunculata is a medicinal plant with a long history of use in Nigeria and in many parts of Africa. Different classes of phytochemicals were isolated and identified from the root of this plant, however, the phytochemistry of the stem bark is not widely investigated; thus, this study was aimed at identifying the phytochemical constituents of the stem bark. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS/MS) analysis of a fraction (fraction DDK-6) obtained from the column chromatography of the ethylacetate extract of S. longipedunculata stem bark was conducted on a Waters Synapt G2 quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer using positive mode of ionization. The results suggested that 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-(2’,4’-dihydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one was the major component of fraction DDK-6. Other compounds identified in this fraction include geranyl hydroquinone, 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6,8-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-4-one,4-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinoline-2- carboxidamide, 3-(1,3-benzodi-oxol-5-yl-4-morpholinyl)-3-(2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone, 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-8-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)xanthone, 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one,[(7R,8R)-7-[(Z)-2-methylbut-2-+enoyl]oxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-pyrrolizin-1-yl]methyl(2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-2-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-3-methyl butanoate, (Z)-Octadec-9-enamide, [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]oxan-2-yl]methylbenzoate and (1S,4R)-7-Methoxycalamenen-3-one. The present study has tentatively identified the presence of these compounds in the stem bark of S. longipedunculata, and studies are currently on-going to isolate them in their pure forms.