Phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of three selected Cordia species from Panama

The aim of the present study was the phytochemical analysis of the leaves from three not previously studied tropical species Cordia bicolor, Cordia megalantha and Cordia dentata (Boraginaceae) collected from Panama. The genus Cordia is one of the major and most important of the family and involves a wide range of therapeutic uses in traditional medicine. Eleven known compounds allantoin (1), rosmarinic acid (2), caffeic acid (3), isoquercetin (4), rutin (5), quercetin-3-Ο-β-d-neohesperidoside (6), kaempferol 3-Ο-β-d-neohesperidoside (7), helichrysoside (8), kaempferol 3-O-(2″-O-α-l-rhamnosyl-6″trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-d-glucoside (9), quercetin 3-O-(6″ trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-d-galactoside (10), 4-hydroxyphenyl lactic acid (11), have been isolated and structurally elucidated. Compounds 6 and 7 have been isolated for the first time in Cordia genus, compounds 8-10 are reported for the first time in the Boraginaceae family, while secondary metabolite 9 is isolated as natural product for the second time. The methanolic extracts of the plants have been assayed for their antioxidant properties by free radical scavenging, reducing power, phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating assay. Enzyme inhibitory activity has been also evaluated against cholinesterases, α-amylase and α-glucosidase. C. megalantha exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity compared to the other studied Cordia species and a high inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, which suggests that this herbal material could be used for further studies as a potential source for therapeutic applications.