Abstract Teclea nobilis is widely distributed in tropical Africa and used as the remedy for gonorrhea, fever and analgesics. The roots of Teclea nobilis were exhaustively extracted using dichloromethane/methanol (1:1) and methanol to give 2.36% and 2.12% yield, respectively. Phytochemical screening analysis conducted on roots extracts of Teclea nobilis revealed the presence of alkaloid, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and saponins. Silica gel column chromatographic separation of the crude extract afforded benzoylbetulin (3), isolated for the first time from natural source, along with a known furoquinoline alkaloid maculine (1) and a known steroid lupane (2). The structures of compounds were characterized using spectroscopic methods (1H NMR, 13C NMR and DEPT-135). The extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for antibacterial activities using disc diffusion method against E coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and K. Pneumonia. Moderate inhibition zone (9 mm) was observed for maculine (1) against S. aureus compared to standard Ceftriaxone (20 mm).
Keywords Steroid, furoquinoline Alkaloid, Teclea nobilis, phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity.