Short Communication

AntiMtb activity of triterpenoid-rich fractions from Spondias mombin L.

Joseph A.O. Olugbuyiro^1*, Jones O. Moody² and Mark T. Hamann³*

¹Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, P. M. B. 1023 Ota, Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan; Nigeria.

³Department of Pharmacognosy, and National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, U.S.A.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: olugbuyiro@yahoo.com

Accepted 5 February, 2009

Spondias mombin L. used in traditional medicine because of its antimicrobial properties was found to contain cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, and anthraquinones in the stem bark. Bioassay-directed fractionation of the methanol extract of S. mombin was carried out with VLC and HPLC. Isolates were evaluated for antimtb activity which led to the isolation of a series of potential molecules. A semi pure triterpenoid that demonstrated potency of 92.8% inhibition against Mycobaterium tuberculosis (Mtb) at a concentration of 64 μg/ml was further purified by HPLC.

Key words: Spondias mombin, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, triterpenoids.