Abstract:
The stem- and root-bark of Erythrophleum ivorense (A Chev., family, Fabaceae) are routinely employed in the
West African traditional medicine to treat inflammation and a variety of other disease conditions. Although the
chemistry and pharmacology of cassaine-type diterpene alkaloids isolated from the stem-bark of the plant are
fairly established, the root-bark has not yet been investigated. In the present study, the crude aqueous-alcohol
extract of the root-bark was demonstrated to display a time- and dose (30–300 mg/kg p.o.)-dependent anti-
inflammatory effect in chicks. Comprehensive chromatographic analysis coupled with spectroscopic and X-ray
study further allowed the assignment of one of the major anti-inflammatory constituents as a novel cassaine-
type diterpene, erythroivorensin. The other major constituents were known anti-inflammatory compounds: a
triterpene, betulinic acid and a flavonoid, eriodictyol. The dose (10–100 mg/kg p.o.)-dependent anti-
inflammatory effects of the three compounds were either comparable or more significant than the positive con-
trol, diclofenac.
