Chemical constituents of Bergenia crassifolia roots and their growth inhibitory activity against Babesia bovis and B. bigemina

Abstract

Bergenia crassifolia is a tea plant from in Northeast Asia, and it used to be a traditional medicine in Asian countries. From the roots of this plant, two new compounds, (2R,3S)-3-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-5-O-galloylcatechin and 6-O-(3′′-O-methylgalloyl) arbutin, were isolated together with 20 known flavonoids, including catechins, kaemferols, arbutin derivatives, and bergenin derivatives. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analyses. The anti-babesial activities of the isolated compounds were estimated using in vitro tests against Babesia bigemina and B. bovis, which are the most prevalent species associated with bovine babesiosis. The compounds with galloyl groups showed moderate growth-inhibition effects on B. bovis (IC50 0.80–10.3 μg/mL) and B. bigemina (IC50 5.69–8.60 μg/mL).