Procyanidins from Adansonia digitata

The 80% methanol of the pericarp of the fruits of Adansonia digitata L. (Bombaceae) was found to contain proanthocyanidins as major compounds, viz., (-)-epicatechin, epicatechin-(4 ->beta 8)-epicatechin B2, epicatechin-(4 ->beta 6)-epicatechin B5, epicatechin-(2 beta -> O -> 7, 4 beta -> 8)-epicatechin A2, and epicatechin-(4 ->beta 8)- epicatechin-(4 ->beta 8)epicatechin C1. All the isolated compounds were isolated by open-column liquid chromatography (CC) using SephadexLH 20 as stationary phase. Elution of the column was performed with EtOH. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by means of TLC, ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.