Unusual amount of (−)-mesquitol from the heartwood of Prosopis juliflora

Abstract

A large amount of flavonoid has been extracted and isolated from the heartwood of Prosopis juliflora, an exogenous wood species of Kenya. Structural and physicochemical elucidation based on FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GC-MS and HPLC analysis clearly demonstrated the presence of (−)-mesquitol as the sole compound without any noticeable impurities. The product was able to slow down oxidation of methyl linoleate induced by AIBN. The important amount and high purity of (−)-mesquitol present in the acetonic extract of P. juliflora could therefore be of valuable interest as a potential source of antioxidants from a renewable origin.

Keywords:

• antioxidant
• heartwood
• flavonoid
• Prosopis juliflora
• mesquitol

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a grant from the French government through the Embassy in Nairobi.