Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of four known and one new triterpenoid from Combretum imberbe (Combretaceae)

Combretum imberbe is used widely in Africa inter alia for treating bacterial infections. In addition to four known triterpenoids, 1α,3β-dihydroxy-12-oleanen-29-oic (1), 1-hydroxy-12-olean-30-oic acid (2), 3,30-dihydroxyl-12-oleanen-22-one (3), and 1,3,24-trihydroxyl-12-olean-29-oic acid (4), a new pentacyclic triterpenoid (1α,23-dihydroxy-12-oleanen-29-oic acid-3β-O-2,4-di-acetyl-l-rhamnopyranoside) 5 has been isolated through a bioassay-guided procedure from the leaves of Combretum imberbe. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as mass spectrometric data. All compounds isolated had moderate (62 μg/ml) to strong (16 μg/ml) antibacterial activity (MIC values) against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with 1 and 5 being most active. Compounds 1 and 5 also showed very strong inhibition of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with an IC50 of 0.3 μg/ml. Compound 5 indicated a moderate anti-proliferative (GI50 = 16.5 and 13.2 μg/ml) and cytotoxic activity (CC50 = 17.6 μg/ml) against K-562, L-929 and HeLa cell lines, respectively. The results of this study give credence to the ethnomedicinal use of Combretum imberbe and expand our knowledge on the biological activity of its metabolites.