Thomas J. Schmidt

The phytochemical investigation of the ethylacetate fraction of an ethanolic extract obtained from the stem bark of Ficus sagittifolia (Moraceae) led to the isolation of four flavonoids: (2R)-eriodictyol (1), 2′- hydroxygenistein (2), erycibenin A (3), and genistein (4); a dihydrobenzofuran: moracin P (5); a coumarin: peucedanol (6); and an apocarotenoid terpenoid: dihydrophaseic acid (7). These were identified via 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and ultra-high-resolution liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-QTOF MS). Moracin P (5) is being reported for the first time in the genus Ficus, while the others are known compounds (1–4 and 6–7) isolated previously from the genus but being reported for the first time from the species F. sagittifolia. Their antimicrobial activity against various pathogens (five bacteria: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi; two fungi: Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) was tested. The mixture of genistein and moracin P (4+5) exhibited strong activity against K. pneumoniae (MIC < 0.0039 mg/mL), whereas dihydrophaseic acid (7) was the most active against P. aeruginosa and A. niger (MIC = 0.0078 and <0.0039 mg/mL, respectively). These compounds might be considered potential antimicrobial agents with the potential to be starting points for the development of antimicrobial drugs.