A new sesquiterpenoid from Scaphium macropodum (Miq.) Beumee

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Scaphium macropodum is a plant species with potential medicinal properties.
• Natural products research is crucial for discovering new therapeutic agents.
• Understanding the chemical constituents of medicinal plants aids in their validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize chemical constituents from the stem bark of Scaphium macropodum.
• To evaluate the isolated compounds for cytotoxic and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities.
• To discuss the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds.

Main Methods:

• Methanolic extraction of Scaphium macropodum stem bark.
• Isolation of compounds using chromatographic techniques.
• Structure elucidation using UV-Vis, FT-IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and mass spectrometry.
• Cytotoxicity and anti-acetylcholinesterase assays.

Main Results:

• A new sesquiterpenoid, malayscaphiol (1), was isolated.
• Three known compounds: lupeol (2), lupenone (3), and stigmasterol (4) were identified.
• The structures were confirmed through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis.
• Preliminary bioactivity assays were performed on major compounds.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified novel and known compounds from Scaphium macropodum.
• The isolated compounds possess potential cytotoxic and anti-acetylcholinesterase properties.
• The findings contribute to the phytochemical understanding and chemotaxonomic classification of Scaphium macropodum.