Chemical Constituents from the Stem Bark of Macaranga capensis (Baill.) Benth. ex Sim

Background and objectives Various parts of Macaranga capensis are widely used in traditional folk medicine due to their health-promoting effects. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical constituents in the stem bark of M. capensis . Methodology The stem bark of M. capensis was extracted using a methanol/dichloromethane (1:1) mixture, and the crude extract was subjected to chromatographic techniques to isolate the phytochemical constituents. Results Chemical investigation of the stem bark of M. capenesis led to isolation of eight previously reported metabolites: chrysoeriol ( 1 ), isorhamnetin ( 2 ), kaempferol ( 3 ), 8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-pentylisocoumarin ( 4 ), scopoletin ( 5 ), 3,3′-di- O -methylellagic acid-4′- O -α- L -rhamnopyranoside ( 6 ), 3,3ʹ,4′-trimethoxyellagic acid ( 7 ), and betulin ( 8 ). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with those reported in the literature. It is worth noting that all the compounds identified in this study are reported from Macaranga capensis for the first time. While isocoumarins are a class of lactonic natural products commonly found in microbes and higher plants, the identification of compound 4 represents the first report of its occurrence within the Euphorbiaceae family. Conclusion The isolation of these compounds contributes to a deeper understanding of the chemical diversity within the Macaranga genus and underscores its potential therapeutic applications.