Bioactive Compounds with Significant Anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis Effect Isolated for the First time from Leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis

Objective: The aim of this work is to identify and purify bioactive compounds from 70℅ aqueous methanolic extract (AME) of B. spectabilis leaves collected in Cairo, Egypt and assessed their rheumatoid arthritis activity. Methods: The methanolic extract of B. spectabilis leaves was fractionated and subjected to different chromatographic techniques to isolate pure new compounds which were identified by one dimensional and two dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses and mass spectrometric methods. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity on adjuvant induced chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Results & Discussion: Seven bioactive compounds were purified and identified for the first time from the methanolic extract of Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves; secologanin dimethyl acetal, α- and β-amyrin, α- and β-amyrin acetate, Kaempferol and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside. The previously mentioned compounds had a significant effect against rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion: The seven compounds isolated from the methanolic extract of B. spectabilis leaves showed strong anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity.