Abstract

Studies were carried out on the stem bark of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill) Pierre ex Pax (Euphorbiaceae).The phytochemical examination of the n-hexane and methanol/methylene chloride extracts by silica gel chromatography afforded aleuritolic acid 1 and labda-8(17),13-dien- 3β,15-diol 2, which were isolated for the first time along with E-ferulic acid octacosylate 3. The structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. The antimicrobial activity of the n-hexane and MeOH/CH2Cl2 extracts evaluated using disc diffusion method showed that these extracts were more active against some of the microorganisms tested than some commercially available antibiotics used. For the eight microorganisms tested, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) obtained varied from 4.6±1.2 to 22±4 mg/ml for the n-hexane extract and from 5.±21.2 to 20±1.5 mg/ml for the MeOH/CH2Cl2 extract. Streptococcus faecalis was found being the most susceptible organism with a MIC of 4.6 mg/ml for the n-hexane extract. These antimicrobial properties probably explain partly, the use of this plant in traditional medicine.