Isolation and bioactivity of pentacyclic triterpenoid (Betunilic acid) from the bark of Sarcocephalus latifolius (Smith Bruce)

Abstract

Sarcocephalus latifolius is a plant variously used in Ethnomedicinal practices in Africa. The dried stem bark of this plant was subjected to continuous extraction using various solvents. The methanol fraction was subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) to obtain SB-C2. The structure was established by various spectroscopic studies and comparison of the available data and seen to be Betunilic acid. The bioactivity of this compound was carried out using some clinical pathogens and the activity compared with a standard drug. It was discovered that the compound is comparable to the standard drug.

Keywords: Sarcocephalus latifolius, Methanol stem bark, Rubiaceae, vlc, SB-C2, Betunilic acid