0 avis
Ellagitanins of pharmacological and cosmetic interest isolated from Cunonia macrophylla leaves, an endemic New Caledonian Cunoniaceae. : Ellagitanins d’intérêt pharmacologique et cosmétique isolées de feuilles de Cunonia macrophylla, Cunoniaceae endémique de Nouvelle-Calédonie
Archive ouverte
Edité par CCSD -
International audience. The Cunoniaceae family, in the order Oxalidales, consists of 26 genera with more than 300 species and is essentially found in the southern hemisphere. In New Caledonia, the family comprises 6 genera, Acsmithia, Codia, Cunonia, Geissois, Pancheria, Weinmannia, represented by more than 80 species, all of which are endemic. Few New Caledonian species have been studied for pharmaceutical properties, and the literature on the Cunoniaceae family is particularly poor, in this subject, and in relation to their basic chemistry. However, some members of the Cunoniaceae are reputed to have medicinal properties and are used to cure various diseases.Our screening of 50 species of Cunoniaceae from New Caledonia for antimicrobial properties and for inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and scavengers of superoxide anions have revealed bioactive potential of some species. Cunonia macrophylla Brongniart & Gris in particular showed a capacity to inhibit bacteria as well as fungi. This species belongs to a genus of 25 species, 24 from New Caledonia and 1 from South Africa, Cunonia capensis, which is morphologically somewhat similar to C. macrophylla.Microbial infections cause significant health problems throughout the world and thus research into new antimicrobial agents from unstudied species of plants is a necessary strategy in the struggle against these infections. The separation, isolation and identification of bioactive compounds were performed on extracts from leaves of C. macrophylla. As far we are aware no previous data have been reported on the phytochemistry of this species.