Plants of the genus Derris (Fabaceae)are known to contain flavonoids particularly isoflavonoids such as rotenoids. Derris ferruginea (Benth.), originate to Asia, is traditionally used as insecticide, fish poison and in the fight against ectoparasites. Phytochemical study of extracts from stems and leaves of Derris ferruginea were made to isolate and characterize 14 compounds mainly flavanones and isoflavonoids. Almost of them are prenylated. An extended biological evaluation was performed for crude extracts and some isolated compounds. Alternatives methods were developed to obtain two interesting compounds. Centrifugal partition chromatography has resulted in purification in larger amounts of cajaflavanone which possess intersting properties in terms of biological ( anti-inflammatory effect on microglia1 cells, inhibiting the formation of advanced glycation and products by a non-antioxidant mechanism, proangiogenic / effect ex vivo). The synthesis of a novel compound was undertaken and permitted to validate its structure. Finally, the major compound of the leaf was preliminary tested on a model to study its insecticidal activity: the DUM neurons of Periplaneta americana. This electrophysiological technique allows understanding the mechanism of action of this compound.
