<b>ANTIMICROBIAL DITERPENOID ALKALOIDS FROM <i>ERYTHROPHLEUM SUAVEOLENS</i> (GUILL. & PERR.) BRENAN</b>

An investigation of the stem bark of Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan yielded the known amide norcassaide ( 1 ) and a new diterpenoid alkaloid named norerythrosuaveolide ( 2 ) which was characterized as 7β-hydroxy-7-deoxo-6-oxonorcassaide. The structures were established on the basis of one and two-dimensional 1 H and 13 C NMR spectral data. The compounds showed potent antimicrobial activities against bacteria and yeasts. KEY WORDS: Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan, Norcassaide, Diterpenoid alkaloid, Norerythrosuaveolide, Antimicrobial activities, Bacteria, Yeasts Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2005, 19(2), 221-226.