Structure-Activity Relationship Among the Antibacterial Pterocarpans from African Erythrina Species: A Review

Authors

  • Simon K. Okwute Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, F.C.T., Nigeria.
  • Lester A. Mitscher Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26538/tjpps/v3i5.2

Keywords:

structure-activity-relationship, antibacterial activities, pterocarpans, African Erythrina species

Abstract

The genus Erythrina, a folkloric medicinal plant found in many tropical regions of the world, has yielded many flavonoids, including isoflavonoids of diverse structures. Some African Erythrina species have been investigated, and many have been found to contain isoflavonoids belonging to the sub-class pterocarpans which have displayed structural variations and interesting antibacterial activities. In this review, the structures and antibacterial activities of 14 pterocarpans reported in the literature from 8 African Erythrina species have been collated and subjected to structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis to establish the best structural characteristics that enhance their antibacterial activities. The Structure-activity relationship (SAR) showed that their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria typified by Staphylococcus aureus, and the acid-fast organisms represented by Mycobacterium smegmatis, depends on the substitution pattern of the prenyl and hydroxyl groups on the two aromatic rings of the pterocarpan nucleus as well as the planarity of the pterocarpan molecule. Also, the high lipophilicity of the molecule provided by the presence of the prenyl groups enhances their antibacterial activity. Consequently, among the pterocarpans and indeed those from the African Erythrina species, 3,9-dihydroxypterocarpan (MIC=1.56 µg/mL), erycristagallin (MIC=3.13 µg/mL) and erythrabyssin II (MIC=3.12ug/mL) possess the best structural requirements for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium smegmatis. This review will guide the development of new antibacterial agents based on the pterocarpan framework.

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Author Biography

Simon K. Okwute, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, F.C.T., Nigeria.

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.

 

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Published

2024-09-01

How to Cite

Okwute, S. K., & Mitscher, L. A. (2024). Structure-Activity Relationship Among the Antibacterial Pterocarpans from African Erythrina Species: A Review. Tropical Journal of Phytochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3(5), 303–308. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjpps/v3i5.2