Isolation of Polyphenols fromPolygala gazensis and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of Related AfricanPolygala Species

Abstract

The chromonocoumarins frutinones A and B and lignans eudesmin, magnolin, yangambin and kobusin were isolated from lipophilic extract of P. gazensis. This species and two other related Polygala species were subsequently analysed by thermospray liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode-array detection. Frutinone A was also found in the roots and aerial parts of P. teretifolia and P. fruticosa, while the presence of frutinone B was limited principally to the roots. Lignans were present in the aerial parts of P. teretifolia. Frutinone A showed antifungal activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum and Candida albicans while eudesmin and kobusin were antifungal against Cladosporium cucumerinum only. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.