Anti-mosquito and antimicrobial nor-halimanoids, isocoumarins and an anilinoid from Tessmannia densiflora

Phytochemistry. 2009 Jul;70(10):1233-8. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.07.024. Epub 2009 Aug 21.

Abstract

The nor-halimane diterpenoid tessmannic acid and its methyl, 2-methylisopropyl and 1-methylbutyl esters, the unusual isocoumarins 8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-pentylisocoumarin and 7-chloro-8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-pentylisocoumarin, and 5-pentyl-3-methoxy-N-butylaniline were isolated from the stem and root bark extracts of Tessmannia densiflora Harms (Caesalpiniaceae) that showed mosquito larvicidal activity. The structures were determined on interpretation of spectroscopic data. Tessmannic acid and its methyl ester exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity. The compounds also caused high larvae and adult Anopheles gambiae mosquitoe mortality effects, and stronger mosquito repellency than that shown by the standard repellent DEET, hence indicating Tessmannia species to be potential sources of bioactive natural products.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / drug effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / drug effects
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / drug effects
  • Fabaceae / chemistry*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Insect Repellents / chemistry
  • Insect Repellents / pharmacology*
  • Isocoumarins / chemistry*
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Insect Repellents
  • Isocoumarins
  • Plant Extracts