Fractionation of an ethanolic extract of Swartzia polyphylla, guided in part by an assay for inhibition of protein kinase C, led to the isolation of the known flavonoids biochanin A, dihydrobiochanin A, ferreirin, dalbergioidin, and naringenin, and one new prenylated isoflavonone,
The methanolic extract of Swartzia polyphylla DC. heartwood had antibacterial activity against cariogenic bacteria, the mutans Streptococci. The chromatographic purification of the extract afforded seven flavonoids. Among them, three known isoflavanones, dihydrobiochanin A, ferreirin and