PHYTOCHEMICAL SURVEY OF SIX DOMINICAN PLANTS IN THE ANACARDIACEAE FAMILY
J. GORELICK-FELDMAN AND E. RODRIGUEZ

Plants of the Anacardiaceae family are known for their ability to elicit skin dermatitis. The reaction is usually caused by a group of phenolic compounds known as urushiols. While allergic effects of urushiols have been studied, few studies have been done on their potential medicinal uses. The plants’ secondary compounds may have beneficial medicinal uses because they are already used in traditional medicine. Six species of the Anacardiaceae family growing in La Altagracia province of the Dominican Republic were studied. Two species native to Punta Cana, Metopium toxiferum, and Comocladia dodonea as well as four cultivated species, Anacardium occidentale, Spondias purpurea, Spondias cithrerea, and Mangifera indica were collected. The plants were extracted in 95% ethanol and analyzed for biological activity. Disk diffusion bioassays were performed using the gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, the gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureaus, and three strains of the yeast, Candida albicans. Brine shrimp and mosquito larvae were used to test for cytotoxicity. Extracts from the leaf of C. dodonea, as well as the fruits from S. purpurea and M. indica were cytotoxic and inhibited growth of B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa as well as all three strains of C. albicans. The extracts were partitioned into chloroform (organic) and water (inorganic) phases and the active compounds were found in the organic phase. Terpenoid and phenolic compounds were isolated using thin-layer chromotography. Further research is necessary to isolate the active compounds and to elucidate their medicinal potential.