Commigileadin A: A New Triterpenoid from Commiphora gileadensis Aerial Parts

Background: Genus Commiphora (Burseraceae) includes about 150 species of aromatic shrubs located in Africa, India, and the Arabian region. C. gileadensis L. has been used for treating several ailments such as constipation, urinary retention, headache, jaundice, joint pain, liver and stomach diseases, and inflammatory disorders. Objectives: In this work, a phytochemical investigation of C. gileadensis aerial parts was carried out. Moreover, the antimicrobial potential of the new metabolite was assessed. Materials and Methods: The aerial parts were extracted at room temperature with methanol (MeOH). The MeOH extract was subjected to various chromatographic techniques to separate the bio‑constituents. Their structures were exhaustively specified by utilizing diversified spectroscopic data and comparing them with the literature. The antimicrobial potential of the new compound 1 was assessed toward Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium albicans. Results: A new friedelan triterpenoid, commigileadin A [3,11‑dioxo‑(D: A)‑friedo‑olean‑27‑al] (1) and four known metabolites, namely, Stigmasterol (2), naringenin (3), naringenin‑4‑methyl ether (4), and kaempferol (5) were obtained. Compound 1 possessed moderate activity toward B. cereus (inhibition zone diameter (IZD): 12.6 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]: 8.9 µg/mL) in comparison to ciprofloxacin (IZD: 21.1 mm and MIC: 2.5 µg/mL, respectively). Conclusion: This work reported the characterization of a new triterpenoid (1) and four known constituents (2–5). Compound 1 possessed a moderate activity toward B. cereus.