Perspectives of the Apiaceae Hepatoprotective Effects - A Review

The liver has the crucial role in the regulation of various physiological processes and in the excretion of endogenous waste metabolites and xenobiotics. Liver structure impairment can be caused by various factors including microorganisms, autoimmune diseases, chemicals, alcohol and drugs. The plant kingdom is full of liver protective chemicals such as phenols, coumarins, lignans, essential oils, monoterpenes, carotenoids, glycosides, flavonoids, organic acids, lipids, alkaloids and xanthenes. Apiaceae plants are usually used as a vegetable or as a spice, but their other functional properties are also very important. This review highlights the significance of caraway, dill, cumin, aniseed, fennel, coriander, celery, lovage, angelica, parsley and carrot, which are popular vegetables and spices, but possess hepatoprotective potential. These plants can be used for medicinal applications to patients who suffer from liver damage

Two New Hydroxy Chalcone Derivatives from Thymus cilicicus

The aerial part of Thymus cilicicus Linn. (Labiatae) has afforded two new hydroxy chalcone derivatives, characterized as 4, 2 , 4 , 6 , 7, 8-hexahydroxy-7 (8)-dihydro-chalcone (1), and 3, 4, 2 , 4 , 6 , 7, 8-heptahydroxy-7 (8)-dihydro-chalcone (2). The structures of the isolated compounds have been elucidated based on various spectral studies

Osteosaponins 1 and 2: two new saponin glycosides from Osteospermum vaillantii.

Osteospermum vaillantii (Decne) T. Norl., collected from southern Saudi Arabia, yielded two new saponins characterised as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2' --> 1'')-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(3' --> 1''')-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-oleanolic acid, designated as osteosaponin, and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2' --> 1'')-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2''-1''''')-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(3' --> 1''')-O-beta-(-D-galactopyranosyl-oleanolic-acid-28-C(O)-O-beta-D-(1'''')-glucopyranosyl ester, designated as osteosaponin. The sugar attachments and configurations were confirmed by spectroscopic methods, that is, 1H, 13C-NMR, COSY, HSQC and HMBC-NMR experiments. DOI: 10.1080/1478641090337485

Three new diterpenes and the biological activity of different extracts of Jasonia montana.

Three new diterpenes, namely jasonin-a (1), jasonin-b (2), and jasonin-c (3) were isolated from the aerial parts of Jasonia montana (Asteraceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data as [(1E)-2-((2S)-1,2,5-trimethylbicyclo[3.2.l]octan-8-yl)vinyl] benzene-3-carboxylic acid (1), [3-((2S, 5S)-1,2, 5-trimethylcycloheptanyl)propyl]benzene-3-carboxylic acid (2), and [(1E)-3-((7R)-1,7-dimethy-4-methylenecycloheptanyl)prop-1-enyl] benzene-3-carboxylic acid (3). In addition, the previously reported 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-3,6,4'-trimethoxy flavone designated as centaureidin (4), was also isolated and characterized from this source. The different extracts of the plant were also screened for hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities, wherein the petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts exhibited hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activity, and the petroleum ether and chloroform extracts showed antimicrobial activity

Beibersteneolide-a and -b: Two new sesquiterpene lactones from <i style="">Achillea beiberstenii</i>

2538-2544The aerial part of Achillea beiberstenii (Compositae) has afforded two new sesquiterpene lactones, characterized as 3,9-diacetoxy-1b,10-epoxy-5(4)-en-germacran-6,12-olide, named as beibersteneolide-a 1, and 4,9-dihydroxy-2(1),6(5),11(13)-triene-guaian–7,12-olide, designated  as beibersteneolide-b 2. The structures of the isolated compounds have been elucidated on the basis of spectral studies

Crotalic and emarginellic acids: two triterpenes from Crotalaria emarginella and anti-inflammatory and anti-hepatotoxic activity of crotalic acid.

The aerial parts of Crotalaria emarginella Vatke (Leguminosae) has afforded two triterpenes, characterized as 3alpha-hydroxy-arbor-12-ene-28-carboxylic acid, designated as crotalic acid (1), and 2beta,3beta,21-trihydroxy-arbor-12-ene-29-carboxylic acid, designated as emarginellic acid (2). The structures of the isolated products were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical studies. On screening the biological activity, the crotalic acid (1) exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory activity (dose: 10mg/kg), which showed 53% inhibitory effect. Whereas, the standard oxyphenyl butazone (100mg/kg) exhibited 69% inhibition with respect to carrageenan (0.05ml, 1%) used to cause inflammation in rat paw method. In addition, it also showed anti-hepatotoxic activity by 13-30% with respect to standard silybon-70 (35-57%) against CCl(4) induced toxicity in Wistar rats

Isolation, antihypertensive activity and structure activity relationship of flavonoids from three medicinal plants

400-404Eight flavonoids, namely naringenin 1, 3-β-hydroxynaringenin designated as isoaromadendrin 2, taxifolin 3, isoaromadendrin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside designated as isosinensin 4 have been isolated from Euphorbia cuneata Vahl; 5-hydroxy-3, 4′, 7-trimethoxyflavone 5, 5-hydroxy-3, 3′, 4′, 7-tetramethoxyflavone (retusin) 6, 4′, 5-dihydroxyflavone-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside named as verbenacoside 7 are obtained from Salvia verbenaca L; and epicatchin 8 is isolated from Osyris abyssinica. Their structures have been established by spectral and chemical methods, whereupon the compounds 2, 4 and 7 are found to be new flavonoids. Compounds 1-5, 7, 8 and alcoholic extract of Salvia verbenaca have also been screened biologically for antihypertensive activity in normotensive albino rats, which showed a varied degree in the decrease of blood pressure and heart rate. The flavonoids 2, 3 and 5 are found most potent exhibiting the decrease in blood pressure 36.5, 20.0 and 30.0 (mmHg) respectively in comparison to normal values. Other compounds also exhibit a good activity. The structure activity relationship (SAR) has also been discussed

Acylated pregnane glycosides from Caralluma sinaica

Caralluma sinaica is sold on local markets of Saudi Arabia for various health benefits however no phytochemical study has specifically been performed on this species. NMR and UHPLC-ESI-TOF-MS profilings of the ethanolic extract of the whole plant reveal a very complex phytochemical composition dominated by pregnanes. Detailed information on its constituents was obtained after isolation. Six pregnane glycosides were obtained and characterized based on the extensive spectroscopic analysis (including IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS data), in addition to ten known compounds (seven pregnanes and three flavonoids). The compounds were identified as 12b-O-benzoyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-6-deoxy-3-Omethyl-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranoside, 12b-O-tigloyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranoside, 12b-O-benzoyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-digitalopyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1?4)-b-Dcymaropyranoside,12b-O-benzoyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-thevetopyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranoside, 12b-O-benzoyl-20-O-tigloyl boucerin-3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranoside, 12b-20-O-dibenzoyl boucerin-3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1?4)-b-D-cymaropyranoside. Finally, the isolated compounds were evaluated for their quinone reductase induction

Chemical Analysis and Biological Activity of the Essential Oils of Two Endemic Soqotri Commiphora Species

The barks of two endemic Commiphora species namely, Commiphora ornifolia (Balf.f.) Gillett and Commiphora parvifolia Engl., were collected from Soqotra Island in Yemen and their essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of both oils was investigated by GC and GC-MS. Moreover, the essential oils were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria, two Gram-negative bacteria and one yeast species by using a broth micro-dilution assay for minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and for their antioxidant activity by measuring the DPPH radical scavenging activity. A total of 45 constituents of C. ornifolia (85.6%) and 44 constituents of C. parvifolia (87.1%) were identified. The oil of C. ornifolia was characterized by a high content of oxygenated monoterpenes (56.3%), of which camphor (27.3%), α-fenchol (15.5%), fenchone (4.4%) and borneol (2.9%) were identified as the main components. High contents of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (36.1%) and aliphatic acids (22.8%) were found in C. parvifolia oil, in which caryophyllene oxide (14.2%), β-eudesmol (7.7%), bulnesol (5.7%), T-cadinol (3.7%) and hexadecanoic acid (18.4%) predominated. The results of the antimicrobial assay showed that both oils exhibited moderate to high antibacterial activity especially against Gram-positive bacteria. C. ornifolia oil was the most active. In addition, the DPPH-radical scavenging assay exhibited only weak antioxidant activities for both oils at the high concentration tested