Bioactive phytochemicals from leaf extract of Erlangea tomentosa S. Moore (Bothriocline longipes (Oliv. & Hiern.) used to treat bacterial infections in Uganda

The leaves of Erlangea tomentosa (ET) are used to treat several bacterial infections like respiratory tract infections, skin infections, diarrhea and gastrointestinal disorders. However, there is limited information about the compounds responsible for its bacterial activities. The study aimed at isolation and characterisation of phytochemicals from the leaf extracts of ET.

Three compounds were isolated from leaf extracts of ET and characterised. Two compounds; eriodictyol-7-O-β-glucoside (1) and 5, 7, 3′, 4′-tetrahydroxy-7-O-[6"-O-(acetyl)-β-D-glucopyrancsyloxy]-flavanone (coccinoside A) (2) were identified from ethyl acetate extract while one compound; di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (3) was identified from dichloromethane extract.

Compounds; 1, 2 and 3 were isolated and identified from ET and genus Erlangea for the first time. The reported antibacterial properties of compound 3 in literature could be responsible for the antibacterial activities of ET and the traditional use of ET.