Identification of corilagin, punicalagin and ellagic acid derivatives from antibacterial and antioxidative extracts of African

Terminalia laxiflora Engl & Diels. is used as decoctions against bacterial infections and their symptoms such as cough and diarrhea [1]. Stem wood fumigations are used against malaria parasite, venereal diseases and skin disorders [2,3,4]. Previous research demonstrated in vitro anti-acne properties of stem wood of T. laxiflora and agrees with the traditional use of the stem wood against skin ailments [4]. This study aimed on identification of antioxidative ellagitannins and ellagic acid derivatives in the roots of T. laxiflora. Air dried root (100 g) was sequentially extracted using solvents of increasing polarities. 20 µl of the ethyl acetate extract (50 mg/mL), showing good antimicrobial activity, was applied on RP-18 TLC plates and development was performed using a mobile phase of methanol and water. The plates were dried and sprayed with DPPH reagent to detect antioxidative compounds. Gallic acid and catechin were used as standards. Our TLC results show that ellagitannins and gallic acid contributed significantly to the antioxidative potential of the ethyl acetate extract of T. brownii. Ellagitannins are presumably also related to the good antibacterial effects of this extract. UHPLC/MS-QTOF and HPLC-DAD analysis led to the identification of nineteen ellagitannins among which corilagin and its derivative as well as punicalagin were characterized for the first time from the root of T. laxiflora. Ellagic acid xyloside and 3-O-methyl ellagic acid xyloside are likewise presented for the first time in the roots of T. laxiflora.