Chemical characterization and biological activity of Macfadyena unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae)

Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) has been widely used in folk medicine as an ant i-inflammatory, antimalarial and antivenereal. The purpose of this study wa s to chemically characterize the main plant components, and to evaluate the biological properties of some of the fractions derived from leaves (MACb) and liana (MACa) of this plant. Chemical characterization allowed the identification of the compounds corym boside, vicenin-2, quercitrin, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid, lupeo l, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterylglucoside, allantoin and lapachol. The biological screening of fractions and/or purified substances derived fr om fractions revealed antitumoral and antitrypanosomal activities in fracti ons MACa/lapachol and MACb/MACb21, respectively. The anti-lipoxygenase and anti-cyclooxygenase effect seen in fractions MACa and MACb showed a partial correlation with the anti-inflammatory property attributed to this plant.