Polyphenols from Eriosema tuberosum

A dichloromethane extract of the roots of Eriosema tuberosum exhibited antifungal activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum and Candida albicans using TLC bioautography. Bioassay-directed fractionation led to the isolation of four new compounds, eriosemaones A-D, together with a known compound, flemichin-D, as the active constituents. Three inactive polyphenols were also isolated after methylation, together with one new chromone, eriosematin. Structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and from chemical evidence.