The stems of Cissus quadrangularis L (Vitaceae) have been consumed for centuries throughout Asia and Africa as a culinary vegetable. The aqueous extract of C. quadrangularis stems and leaves contains flavonoids and stilbenes, which inhibit lipase, amylase and α-glucosidase and, therefore, might be, at least in part, related to the claimed anti-obesity activity of the plant. The enzyme inhibition activity is outlined of a novel flavonoid (3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylkaempferol) (2) and stilbene (3-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)indane-4,6-diol) (7), four known structurally related flavonoids, and one stilbene isolated from the extract.
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2.
ObenJ, KuateD, AgborG, MomoC, TallaX. (2006) The use of a C. quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome. Lipids in Health and Disease, 5, 24–30.
3.
ChidambaraMurthy KN, VanithaA, Mahadeva SwamyM, RavishankarGA. (2003) Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Cissus quadrangularis L. Journal of Medicinal Foods, 6, 99–105.
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MallikaJ, ShyamalaC. (2005) In vitro and in vivo evaluation of free radical scavenging potential of C.quadrangularis. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 8, 95–99.
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MehtaM, KaurN, BhutaniKK. (2001) Determination of marker constituents from Cissus quadrangularis Linn. and their quantitation by HPTLC and HPLC. Phytochemical Analysis, 12, 91–105.
6.
BhutaniKK, KapoorR, AtalCK. (1984) Two unsymmetric tetracyclic triterpenoids from Cissus quadrangularis.Phytochemistry, 23, 407–410.
