(-)-Brunneusine, a new phenolic compound with antibacterial properties in aqueous medium from the leaves of Agelanthus brunneus (Engl.) Tiegh (LORANTHACEAE)

Agelanthus brunneus (Loranthaceae) is a hemiparasitic plant growing on Senna siamea (Fabaceae). The chemical investigation of its leaves and flowers led to the isolation of one new phenolic compound namely (-)-brunneusine (1), together with 13 known compounds. The crude leaves and flowers extracts (CLE and CFLE) with their ethyl acetate fractions (EAFL and EAFFL) and some isolated compounds (1-3; 8-9 and 11-14) have been tested on four bacterial species of sanitary importance isolated in an aquatic environment. All the samples except compound 3 showed antibacterial activity with MICs ranging from 0.43 to 8.88.10(3) mu g/mL and MBCs from 0.43 to 3.55.10(3) mu g/mL. Compounds 9 and 14 showed better activity on all bacterial species tested with MICs ranging from 0.43 to 27.77 mu g/mL. Only CLE, EAFL and compounds 14, 2, 8 and 9 showed bactericidal effects on all bacterial species tested.