Full Length Research Paper

Steroids isolated from Millettia versicolor Baker (Fabaceae)

Ongoka, P. R.^1,2*, Banzouzi, J. T.^3,4, Poupat, C.³, Ekouya, A.², Ouamba, J. M.² and Moudachirou, M.⁵

¹Département des Sciences Exactes, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université Marien Ngouabi, BP 69, Brazzaville – Congo.

²Unité de Chimie du Végétal et de la Vie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Marien Ngouabi, BP 69, Brazzaville – Congo.

³Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles (CNRS), 1, Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex – France.

⁴Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Médecins d’Afrique (CERMA), BP 45, Brazzaville – Congo.

⁵Université d’Abomey Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou – Bénin.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ongokapascal@yahoo.fr.

Accepted 9 April, 2008

The objective of this investigation was to isolate and determine the chemical constituents of the leaves of Millettia versicolor Baker, a medicinal plant used in the traditional pharmacopoeias of Central Africa, essentially for its pain-relieving and anti-parasitic properties. A methanol extract of the leaves was made. The chemical compounds isolated were analyzed by HPLC/MS and GC/MS. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies (IR, RMN ¹H, ¹³C) and confirmed by comparison with published data. Seven known compounds (two sterols, one stanol and four triterpene alcohols) were determined, the major compound being stigmasterol. Except lupeol, previously isolated from M. versicolor aerial parts, these compounds are isolated from this plant for the first time. Their presence supports the pain-relieving use of the plants, since 5 of the 7 compounds have reported anti-inflammatory activity, and 2 of these 5 had also an anti-nociceptive action.

Key words: Medicinal plant, Millettia versicolor, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, phytosterols.