Chemical constituents of the fruits of Artocarpus altilis

Safety Evaluation of Artocarpus altilis as Pharmaceutical Agent in Wistar Rats

This study was designed to elucidate the acute toxicity of Artocarpus altilis leaf and bark extracts. In acute toxicity study, no mortality or any toxic reaction was recorded in any group after 14 days of administering the extracts (2000 mg Kg⁻¹ BW). The extracts (ALA, ABA, ALM, and ABM) did not cause any behavioural or physical changes in experimental rats. There was no significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference in the biochemical parameters analysed between the groups. Slight elevation in activities of AST and ALT in extract treated groups was observed, but this did not exert any deleterious effect on the normal metabolism which was supported by the histopathology of liver. Histopathological studies showed no remarkable changes after 14 days of oral administration of ALA, ABA, ALM, and ABM extracts. The study contributes to establishing the nontoxic quality parameters of Artocarpus altilis leaf and bark parts and the results suggest the safety of the extracts in therapeutic uses.

A new prenylated aurone from Artocarpus altilis

Phytochemical study of the methanol extract of Artocarpus altilis resulted in the isolation of a new prenylated aurone, artocarpaurone (1), together with eight known compounds including two prenylated chalcones (2 and 3), three prenylated flavanones (4-6), and three triterpenes (7-9). The structure of 1 was elucidated as 6-hydroxy-2-[8-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-5-ylmethylene]-3(2H)-benzofuranone by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR spectra and FT-ICR-MS. Compound 1 showed moderate nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, whereas 2 and 3 had moderate 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging effect, compared with the positive control (+)-catechin.