Antimicrobial prenylated dihydrochalcones from Eriosema glomerata

Two new natural dihydrochalcones exhibiting antimicrobial properties together with six known compounds were isolated from the Cameroonian medicinal plant Eriosema glomerata. The structures of the new dihydrochalcones were elucidated as 2',4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-3'-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl)dihydrochalcone and 2',4'-dihydroxy-3-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl)dihydrochalcone by detailed spectroscopic analysis. The two new dihydrochalcones, named erioschalcones A (1) and B (2), demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against the microbial strains Bacillus megaterium, Escherichia coli, Chlorella fusca and Microbotryum violaceum.