Occurrence of sesquiterpene derivatives in Scleria striatonux de wild (Cyperaceae).

Scleria striatonux (Cyperaceae), a spice traditionally used in Cameroon, displayed an antiplasmodial activity. Two new sesquiterpenes, 1 (sclerienone A) and 2 (sclerienone B), have subsequently been isolated from the methylene chloride/methanol extract of the rhizome. Their separation involved a combination of methods including repeated silica gel open column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Structure elucidation was achieved by means of chemical tests and extensive spectral studies.