Abstract:
Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae) and Terminalia sericea (Combretaceae) have been
traditionally used in Southern Highlands of Tanzania for treatment of various infectious disorders. The present
study aimed to evaluate antifungal activity of the isolated compounds from Parinari curatellifolia and Terminalia
sericea plant species. The ethyl acetate extract of the root barks from Parinari curatellifolia and Terminalia
sericea were fractionated using column chromatography. The structures of compounds were established using
both 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopic techniques while antifungal activities of the fractions and isolated
compounds were evaluated using broth microdilution assay against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans
and Aspergillus niger species. Two known compounds toddalolactone (1) and 10-hydroxy-13-methoxy-9-
methyl-15-oxo-20-norkaur-16-en-18-oic acid -lactone (2) from P. curatellifolia and two compounds Sericic acid
(3) and sericoside (4) from T. sericea were isolated and their structures identified and confirmed by spectral data
obtained and from the literatures. Strong antifungal activity was shown by Sericic acid (3) with MIC value of
0.07 mg/ml against C. albicans and C. neoformans. Isolation of toddalolactone (1) from Parinari curatellifolia
as well as the antifungal activity of Sericic acid (3) from Terminalia sericea is being reported for the first time.
Bioactivity of these compounds support traditional use of the studied plants.
