Chemical constituents isolated from stems of Maesa membranacea

Abstract

Maesa membranacea A. DC. (Myrsinaceae) is an evergreen shrub that grows in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. in Vietnam, the leaves and roots of this species have been used as traditional medicine for the treatment of fever and hepatitis [1]. Many Maesa plants have also been used as a folk remedy in African and Asian countries. Previous chemical studies on the Maesa species have revealed the presence of quinone, saponin triterpenoid, and flavonoid compounds [2-5]. The plant’s extracts and chemical constituents have displayed various pharmacological properties such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-leismania activity [2-5]. However, until now, no chemical study has been reported on Maesa membranacea. in this paper, we report the isolation and structure elucidation of six compounds including kaempferol (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), betulinic acid (3), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), vanilic acid (5), and protocatechuic acid (6) from the stems of Maesa membranacea. The structures of these compounds have been determined by NMR, MS analysis, and comparison with previously reported studies.