Contribution to the Chemistry of Randia echinocarpa

Plants from the Randia genus (Rubiaceae) are used in Mexican traditional medicine, where diseases as diabetes, cancer, and chronic inflammation are treated with these plants. Particularly, Randia echinocarpa Sessé & Moc. ex DC (endemic in Mexico) is used in the northern region to treat kidney diseases and stomach disorders, while in the central region, this plant is used to treat circulatory and lung diseases, cancer, diabetes, and malaria. Previous research on this plant suggested the antibacterial potential of extracts from leaves and stems, and nematicidal and antioxidant activities for fruit extracts. Phytochemical studies of this plant have been poorly explored, where the presence of mannitol, triterpene, and phytosterol compounds as main components in extracts from fruits was described. In this research, the chemical study of leaves and fruits of R. echinocarpa is described. The presence of gardenoside as the main component of the methanolic extract from leaves was determined after a phytochemical analysis. This compound could be directly related to the use of R. echinocarpa in traditional medicine since scientific reports suggested its potential as an anti-inflammatory and pain suppressor, as well as its inhibitory effect on free fatty acids (FFA)-induced cellular steatosis. In addition, β-gardiol was isolated from fruits extract. Chemical correlation of β-gardiol with gardenoside was done by enzymatic hydrolysis. Other components, including ursolic acid, stigmasterol, sitosterol, and d-mannitol, were also identified. All compounds were characterized by their physical and spectroscopic data.