Bioactive aglycones of Guiera senegalensis: Isolation and structural characterization from stems

Abstract

Vascular plants represent a significant source of bioactive compounds, many of which find applications in traditional medicine. Guiera senegalensis (Combretaceae), an African species, exemplifies this potential: its stems, used as chewing sticks, are renowned for alleviating oral-dental disorders (toothaches, gingivitis). While the antibacterial properties of its aqueous extracts have been previously documented, this study aims to isolate and characterize the compounds responsible for this biological activity. An analytical approach combining chromatography (HPLC, TLC) and spectroscopy (NMR, MS) was employed. Three aglycones were isolated following hydrolysis of the stem aqueous extract: dibenzo[b,d]furan-4,6-diol (yield: 1.79%), 8’-methylnonyl 4-ethylbenzoate (0.12%), and 2'-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-one (0.85%). Their structures were elucidated through comparative spectral analysis and validated against literature data.