Phytochemical investigation of Acacia angustissima

Preliminary pharmacological screening of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Acacia angustissima has revealed sedative and antitumor effects. A phytochemical study has established the presence in the defatted ethanol extract of the leucoanthocyanidin moiety, 7, 3′, 4′‐trihydroxyflavan‐3,4 diol (I). The intractable amorphous ethanol extract, after partial solvent fractionation, was separated into seven fractions with a 100‐stage countercurrent distribution. Three of these seven fractions contained the same leucoanthocyanidin unit (I) A fourth countercurrent fraction has been characterized tentatively as a flavone or flavonol compound. Further studies are being conducted to determine the extent of polymerization of the three fractions and to isolate the monomer leucoanthocyanidin.