Abstract

Caesalpinia crista L. is a scrambling coastal woody climber of the family Caesalpiniaceae. Leaves of C. crista are bipinnate with the rachis armed with spines beneath. Flowers are yellow and fragrant, bearing 5 petals. Pods are flat and have a beaked tip. Diterpenoids of the cassane and norcassane types are the major compounds isolated from C. crista. From the seeds, cassane diterpenoids such as caesalpinins and caesalmins, and norcassane diterpenoids such as norcaesalpinins have been identified. From the stems, roots and seeds of C. crista, cassane diterpenoids (e.g. taepeenins A–L), and norcassane diterpenoids (e.g. nortaepeenins A & B) have been isolated. Flavonoids such as derivatives of flavones and flavanones have been isolated from aerial parts and flowers. Phenolic acids such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and gallic acid have been identified from leaves. Pharmacological properties of C. crista include antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-malarial, anti-tumour, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-amyloidogenic, nootropic, wound healing, anthelmintic, insecticidal, antipyretic and antiulcer activities.

Key words: Caesalpinia crista, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Diterpenoids