Cytotoxic flavonoids from Erythrina caffra Thunb

Abstract

Erythrina caffra is an important medicinal plant native to South Africa. Its stem bark was investigated for the flavonoid constituents and biological activity. Some isolated flavonoids, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,  13, 15 and  16  were found to be active against the human cervix carcinoma KB-3-1 cells with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range. Compounds 8, 9, 11, 13 and 15 also showed weak to moderate antibacterial activity against some organisms using the disc diffusion assay at loadings of 62.5 μg/disc (8, 11) and 125 μg/disc (9, 13, 15).

KEY WORDS: Erythrina caffra, Cytotoxicity, Antibacterial, Flavonoids, Fabaceae

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2016, 30(3), 427-435

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v30i3.11