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Abstract
Context: Eucalyptus has been a source of a number of biologically active compounds. The anti-leishmanial activity of terpenoids from Eucalyptus loxophleba (Benth.) ssp. lissophloia (Myrtaceae) has not yet been investigated.
Objective: Isolation of the terpenoidal constituents for evaluation of in vitro anti-leishmanial activity against the Leishmania donovani (Dd8 strain) promastigotes.
Materials and methods: The chloroform–methanol (8:2) extract of dried leaves of Eucalyptus loxophleba was used to isolate terpenoidal constituents employing solvent partitioning, column chromatography and preparative high performance liquid chromatography and characterized from spectral data. The anti-leishmanial activity of the isolated compounds was tested in vitro using an Alamar blue assay against a culture of L. donovani (Dd8 strain) promastigotes.
Results: Two new naturally occurring triterpenes, named loxanic acid and 3-acetyl loxanic acid together with four known ursane triterpenoids and one bis-monoterpene glycoside, cuniloside B isolated from the leaves showed anti-leishmanial activity (IC50 133 to 235 μM) against the promastigotes of the tested strain.
Conclusion: The terpenes isolated from the leaves of E. loxophleba showed moderate anti-leishmanial activity.
Acknowledgement
The authors are thankful to the director, NIPER for support. We also thank Mr. John Bartle, Dr. Richard Mazenec and Dr. Peter Grayling for assistance in collecting the Eucalyptus loxophleba leaf. Funding was provided by the Australian Government, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation to WJF.
Declaration of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.
