Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to isolate and determine the chemical constituents of the leaves of Millettia versicolor Baker, a medicinal plant used in the traditional pharmacopoeias of Central Africa, essentially for its pain-relieving and anti-parasitic properties. A methanol extract of the leaves was made. The chemical compounds isolated were analyzed by HPLC/MS and GC/MS. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies (IR, RMN ¹H, ¹³C) and confirmed by comparison with published data. Seven known compounds (two sterols, one stanol and four triterpene alcohols) were determined, the major compound being stigmasterol. Except lupeol, previously isolated from M. versicolor aerial parts, these compounds are isolated from this plant for the first time. Their presence supports the pain-relieving use of the plants, since 5 of the 7 compounds have reported anti-inflammatory activity, and 2 of these 5 had also an anti-nociceptive action.

Key words: Medicinal plant, Millettia versicolor, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, phytosterols.