| dc.description |
The bark of Morella salicifolia (HOCHST. EX A. RICH.) VERDC. & POLHILL (Myricaceae) is a common herbal drug and
especially utilized by the Maasai community of northeastern Tanzania. It is traditionally used to treat swellings
on the cheek and face, cough, toothache, stomach problems, headaches, and skin diseases. Unless, there is still a
lack of information considering the specialized metabolites that may be responsible for the traditional use of this
medicinal plant. An isolation study on a methanolic extract revealed three methylated ellagic acids, castalagin,
two monomeric flavan-3-ols, three prodelphinidins and three dioic acid glycosides. Among these metabolites,
myriside (3,4-dimethyl ellagic acid 4′-O-β-D-xylopyranoside, 1), epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate-(2β→O→7, 4β→8)-
gallocatechin (9), 2,7-dimethyl-8-O-(6′-O-galloyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside-deca-2E,4E-dienedioic acid (10), 2,7-dimethyl-
8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-deca-2E,4E-dienedioic acid (11) as well as 4,9-dimethyl-10-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-
dodeca-2E,4E,6E-trienedioic acid (12) were isolated for the first time. To the best of our knowledge, the
dioic acid glycosides represent a generally novel structure type. To provide comprehensive information on the
condensed tannins, the polymeric proanthocyanidins were enriched and characterized via 13C-NMR. Results
confirm chemo-taxonomic relationships within the genera Morella and Myrica in the Myricaceae. |
|