COX-1, COX-2 inhibitors and antifungal agents from Croton hutchinsonianus

Two new compounds, 3'-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-propyl benzoate (1) and 3'-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-propyl benzoate (3) together with known compounds, 3'-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-propyl benzoate (2), poilaneic acid (4), farnesyl acetone (5) and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (6) were isolated and identified from the branches of Croton hutchinsonianus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. The three phenylpropyl benzoates (1-3) were found to exhibit antifungal activity against Candida albicans (IC(50) 5.36-11.41 microg/ml). Compounds 1-2 (IC(50) 2.11-4.95 microg/ml) exhibited potent but non-selective activity against the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) whereas 3 (IC(50) 1.88 microg/ml) preferentially inhibited the enzyme COX-2.