The isomeranzin, a coumarin was isolated from the leaves of Clausena heptaphylla. The structure was elucidated by IR, MS, 1 H and 13 C-NMR. For the first time, the anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 & 2 in vitro activity of the compound was reported and discussed. | Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 42 (1), P. 115 - 120, 2004 isomeranzin against Herpes simplex virus in vitro from clausena heptaphylla (Roxb.) W. & Arn.: isolation, structure and biological assay Received 15-1-2003 Luu Duc Huy1, R. Caple2, C. Kamperdick3, Nguyen Thi Diep1, R. Karim2 1 Institute of Chemistry, Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology 2 University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA 3 Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany Summary The isomeranzin, a coumarin was isolated from the leaves of Clausena heptaphylla. The structure was elucidated by IR, MS, 1H and 13C-NMR. For the first time, the anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 & 2 in vitro activity of the compound was reported and discussed. I - introduction Clausena heptaphylla (Roxb.) W. & Arn. (Rutaceae) (Vietnamese name: Giæi 7 l¸) is a tropical tree [1]. This species is also widely used in traditional medicine. In Asia (China, India, Vietnam, etc.), it is used for fever. Several groups have reported the isolation of the isomeranzin from Skimmia japonica [2], Triphasia trifloliata [3], Clausena anisata [4]. In this paper we reporte on the isolation of the coumarin from the leaves of Clausena heptaphylla growing in Northern Vietnam, the structure elucidation and the anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in vitro biological assay of the compound. II - Results and Discussion Specimens of Clausena heptaphylla were collected many times, in November 1999, May 2000, October 2001, January 2002, from Ba Vi forest of Northern Vietnam. The same coumarin, isomeranzin was isolated simply in high yield ( ÷ ). The structure of obtained coumarin was determined by interpretation of its spectral data (IR, MS, 1H and 13C-NMR) as well as by comparison with spectral data of an authentic sample [2, 5]. 5 6 MeO 7 8 1'CH 10 9 2 4 3 1 2 O O 2' C 3' CH 4' CH3 O 5'CH3 Thus, there are IR absorptions at 1608 cm-1 (C = O ketone), at 1719 cm-1 (C = O lactone). MS data gave a molecular peak at m/z .
