A new caffeate derivative from the ethanol extract of the stem bark of Cassia sieberiana DC. is described herein along with the known secondary metabolites spectaline (2), iso-6-cassine (3), 3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol (4), monobehenin (5), octyl nonadecyloate (6), β-sitosterol (7), stigmasterol (8) and sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9). The chemical structures were elucidated by means of various spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. Extract and isolated compounds were devoid of inhibitory action against the herein selected bacterial strains (MICs > 256 μg/mL) but showed capacities to reduce 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (EC50 < 3 μg/mL) considerably better than the "gold standard" trolox (EC50 6.47 ± 0.48 μg/mL).
Keywords: Cassia sieberiana; Fabaceae; antibacterial activity; antioxidant activity; caffeate derivative.