The Chemical Components of Sesbania grandiflora Root and Their Antituberculosis Activity

Three isoflavanoids, isovestitol (1), medicarpin (2), and sativan (3), along with another known compound, betulinic acid (4), were isolated from the root of Sesbania grandiflora. The structures of the isolated compounds were characterised by means of spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, MS, H-1- and C-13-NMR, DEPT, COSY, BMOC, HMBC, and MS analysis). All the tested compounds 1-4 exhibited antituberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, with MIC values of 50 mu g/mL for compounds 1-3, and 100 mu g/mL for compound 4, whereas, the methanol extract exhibited antituberculosis activity of 625 mu g/mL. This is the first report on the occurrence of isoflavonoids in this plant and their antituberculosis activity.