Phytochemical and pharmacological review of Allium species from Georgia

peer reviewedA review. The aim of the research was phytochem. and pharmacol. review of the species of genus Allium, growing in Georgia. The material of the research was scientific sources and articles, where was described, phytochem. constituents and pharmacol. activity of these plants. 36 species of genus Allium are described in Georgia. Among them 5 species are endemic for Georgia and 2 for Caucasus region. Many biol. active compounds are isolated from the studied species of this genus. Among them, more than 20 saponins, also 11 different types of sapogenins, flavonoids, sulfuric compounds, etc. In the literature, there are many biol. studies on these isolated compounds According to the results of the research, extracts of the plants genus Allium, as well as, the individual compounds have important pharmacol. activity, for example: Cytotoxic activity, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, hepatoprotective activity, fibrinolytic activity, etc. Among the 36 species of genus Allium, common in Georgia, 22 have not been studied. Chem. structure and biol. activity of compounds in these species have not been determined In future, detailed and extensive studies are certainly required to improve the knowledge about the pharmacol. activities, chem. constituents and efficacy of these plants

Steroidal glycosides from the flowers of Allium leucanthum

Furostanol and spirostanol glycosides 1 and 2 were isolated from the flowers of Allium leucanthum, a Caucasian endemic species that grows in Georgia. The structures were established on the base of chemical evidence and spectral analyses ( (1) H, (13) C NMR, (1) H- (1) H COSY, (1) H- (13) C COSY, HMBC, and HR-MS) data. Compound 1 (leucofuranoside A) was reported for the first time and was identified as 26-O-beta-Dglucopyranosyl-(25R)-5 alpha-furostane-3 beta,6 beta-diol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 3)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 4)-beta-D-alactopyranoside. Compound 2 was identified as (25R)-5 alpha-spirostane-3 beta,6 beta-diol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside and described for the first time in the genus Allium

Isolation and Identification of Steroid and Flavonoid Glycosides from the Flowers of Allium gramineum

peer reviewedThe isolation and identification of β-sitosterol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin 3,4'-di-O-β-glucopyranosideand isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-β-glucopyranosidefrom the flowers of Allium gramineumthat growsin Georgia.The structures of isolated compounds havebeen determined by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Isolation and Identification of Steroid and Flavonoid Glycosides from the Flowers of Allium gramineum. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305851744_Isolation_and_Identification_of_Steroid_and_Flavonoid_Glycosides_from_the_Flowers_of_Allium_gramineum [accessed Aug 5, 2016]

Cytotoxic steroidal saponins from the flowers of Allium leucanthum

Allium leucanthum C. Koch is an endemic Caucasian species that grows in Georgia. The flowers are used in traditional medicine. Phytochemical investigation allowed the isolation of seven spirostanol type saponins from the flowers. Their structures were elucidated on the base of NMR and HRESIMS spectrometry data. A new compound, which we have named leucospiroside A (5), has been identified as (25R)-5α-spirostane-2α,3β,6β-triol 3-O-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-galactopyranoside. The six others were known substances, but are described in this plant for the first time. The crude extract, spirostanol and furostanol fractions, as well as isolated compounds, were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity. Compounds 1-3 and 5 were found to be the most active, with relatively similar IC50 values ranging from 3.7 to 5.8 μM for a lung cancer cell line (A549) and 5.6 to 8.2 μM for a colon cancer cell line (DLD-1)

Cytotoxic Steroidal Saponins from the Flowers of Allium leucanthum

Allium leucanthum C. Koch is an endemic Caucasian species that grows in Georgia. The flowers are used in traditional medicine. Phytochemical investigation allowed the isolation of seven spirostanol type saponins from the flowers. Their structures were elucidated on the base of NMR and HRESIMS spectrometry data. A new compound, which we have named leucospiroside A (5), has been identified as (25R)-5α-spirostane-2α,3β,6β-triol 3-O-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-galactopyranoside. The six others were known substances, but are described in this plant for the first time. The crude extract, spirostanol and furostanol fractions, as well as isolated compounds, were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity. Compounds 1-3 and 5 were found to be the most active, with relatively similar IC50 values ranging from 3.7 to 5.8 μM for a lung cancer cell line (A549) and 5.6 to 8.2 μM for a colon cancer cell line (DLD-1)

Phytochemical study of secondary metabolites of plants genus Allium, growing in Georgia and determination of their biological activity

The genus Allium belongs to the family Alliaceae (now included in Amaryllidaceae). This genus involves up to 1233 species, growing especially in the northern hemisphere. The flora of the Caucasus, and especially that of Georgia, is highly endemic. In the region, about 21% of the flora (900 species) are endemic, about 600 are Caucasian endemic species and about 300 species are endemic to Georgia. The objects of this research were to study the plants A. saxatile and A. ponticum growing in Georgia. Powdered plants were extracted with 80% EtOH, using an ultrasonic water bath at 50 ˚C. Dried extracts of each plant were subjected to Diaion HP-20 column chromatography. The mobile phase was H2O-MeOH in gradient condition (100:0; 50:50; 0:100 v/v) and finally EtOAc to give 4 enriched fractions of each plant (A.S.F1_H2O; A.S.F2_MeOH-50%; A.S.F3_MeOH-100%; A.S.F4_EtOAc; A.P.F1_H2O; A.P.F2_MeOH-50%; A.P.F3_MeOH-100%; A.P.F4_EtOAc). Cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, gastroprotective and antioxidant activities of total extracts of both plants and these fractions were evaluated using different assays. During the research, the total furostanolic content was quantified, in the plant material and crude extract of both plants. Cytotoxicity was studied on melanoma cells and according to the results, it was found that the total extract of A. saxatile and 100%-MeOH(A.S.F3 and A.P.F3) fraction of both plats exhibit cytotoxic activity. Results of other biological tests have shown that total extracts of plants and fractions A.S.F2, A.S.F3, A.P.F2, and A.P.F3 have analgesic activity. Anti-inflammatory activity and gastroprotective activity are mostly exhibited in the plant A. saxatile and fraction A.S.F3_MeOH-100%. Fractions A.S.F2 and A.P.F2 have shown antioxidant activity. Individual compounds were isolated from these active fractions and the determination of their chemical structure is ongoing. All these obtained results are significant contributions to studying these species which were never investigated and to finding new sources of biologically active compounds

Microstructural features of generative and vegetative organs of Allium saxatile growing in Georgia

peer reviewedThe microstructural characteristics of the vegetative and generating organs of the medicinal plant Allium saxatile Bieb. has been studied, using Carl Zeiss, Jeneval light microscope, and Omax stereoscopic microscope. The leaves of A. saxatile are bare and have a toothed edge. Mesophyll of the leave is characterized by an isolateral structure. leaf-covering tissue is sharply cutinized, and the cell membrane of the single-rowed epidermal tissue is strongly thickened. The stem is bare, the protective tissue is actively cutinized, the epidermis is in a single layer, and its cells are characterized by a square shape and have a strong thickening of the outer periclinal walls. The vascular bundle is represented with a group layout of lumens of large and small-caliber conductive vessels of an oval and weakly angular shape. The thickening of the shell of the vascular bundle is predominantly spiral. The inflorescence is round, with a frequent flower umbrella. The perianth is egg-bellish, its cover is free, elongated, pointed in shape, and pale pink in color. Filaments are longer than flowers of the perianth. The bulb is free, surrounded by an elongated-conical shape, brownish coloring, and dried, leathery shell. The root of have the shape of a sphere, covering the tissue of the root – exoderm has a double row of cells and is represented by thin-skinned smaller size and large, square-shaped cells

Microstructural features of generative and vegetative organs of Allium ponticum growing in Georgia

peer reviewedThe study aims to determine diagnostic characteristics based on the macro- and microstructural characteristics of the generating and vegetative organs of Allium ponticum Micscz ex Grossh. The bilateral epidermis of the leaves of A. ponticum has an identical structure. Paracytic-type stomata are concentrated on the narrowed edge of cells of leaf epidermis. Vascular bundle of collateral type. The protective tissue of the stem is cutinized, the epidermis is one-line, and the outer periclinal wall of epidermal cells is powerfully thickened. In the epidermis, slightly submerged stomata are differentiated. The leaf is abundantly equipped with a collateral-type vascular bundle of different diameters. The flower is a round, hemisphere, frequent-flowered umbrella. Basal cells of the epidermis of the filament are characterized by the straight or indirect tilt of elongated, linear periclinal walls. The bulb is well-developed and free. It is spherical-oval in shape, and its shell is almost leathery. On the panorama of the texture of the cross-section of the bulb, in the basipetal direction, the tendency of differentiation of the fibrous root system is manifested

Pharmacognostic and pharmacological aspects of plants genus Allium growing in Georgia

editorial reviewedThe genus Allium belongs to the former family Alliaceae (now included in Amaryllidaceae). This genus involves up to 1233 species. Plants of the genus Allium have a long history of traditional uses worldwide. The story of Allium cultivation starts over 4000 years ago in ancient Egypt. Allium species are widely used in Georgian traditional medicine as an antifungal, antiseptic and antibacterial remedy. 36 species of the genus Allium are described in Georgia. Among them, 5 species are endemic to Georgia and 2 to the Caucasus region. The aim of this project was the phytochemical study of secondary metabolites of species of the genus Allium, namely A. saxatile and A. ponticum growing in Georgia. To obtain a crude extract of these plants, powdered plants were extracted with 80% EtOH, using an ultrasonic water bath heated at 50˚C. Dried extracts of each plant were subjected to Diaion HP-20 column chromatography. The mobile phase was H2O-MeOH in gradient condition (100:0; 50:50; 0:100 v/v) and EtOAc to give 4 enriched fractions of each plant (A.S.F1_H2O; A.S.F2_MeOH-50%; A.S.F3_MeOH-100%; A.S.F4_EtOAc; A.P.F1_H2O; A.P.F2_MeOH-50%; A.P.F3_MeOH-100%; A.P.F4_EtOAc). Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity of the aforementioned fractions were evaluated in rodents using “Hot plate”, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and ethanol-induced ulcer assays, respectively. A. saxatile total extract reveals analgesic activity reaching its maximum at 60 min after the administration. Differently, A. ponticum total extract revealed faster onset but a shorter duration of action. A similar tendency was observed when studying the efficacy of fractions obtained from total extracts. The fact that the A.S.F3 fraction has even higher activity than the total extract, allows concluding that this fraction contains a compound(s) responsible for the analgesic effect. In the ethanol-induced ulcer model, only crude extract of A. saxatile has a moderate gastroprotective effect. Moreover, the crude extract of A. ponticum revealed ulcerogenic properties increasing the ulcer index over one in control animals. Assessment of anti-inflammatory activity revealed a notable efficacy of A.S.tot and A.P.tot extracts (63.5% and 32.7%, respectively). Similarly, to the analgesic assay, 100% methanolic fraction (A.S.F3) showed pronounced activity. The obtained results will contribute to the phytochemistry of Allium species already studied and give a strong background for further investigation of active fractions to isolate the individual compounds responsible for the detected activity

Identification of Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Compounds from Allium gramineum Flowers

peer reviewedThe present study evaluates the in vitro anticancer, antiplasmodial and antioxidant activity of the ethanolic crude extract from the flowers of Allium gramineum growing in Georgia and of one flavonol and two steroidal glycosides which were isolated from this plant. The flowers were extracted with ethanol and this total extract was subjected to successive bioguided fractionations to provide glycosides 1-3. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and ESI-MS spectrometric data in comparison with the existing literature and have been identified as: isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), diosgenin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (Prosapogenin A of dioscin) (2), diosgenin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-]-β-D-glucopyranoside (Deltonine) (3). The ethanolic extract has been shown to strongly inhibit the growth of breast adenocarcinoma cell lines, with an IC50 of 4.5 ± 0.7μg/mL for MDAMB-231 and 4.8 ± 0.9μg/mL for MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxic activity was related to 2 and 3 which exhibited potent cytotoxicity, with an IC50 of ± 3μM. Concerning antiplasmodial activities, only weak activities were observed using the ethanolic extract and the two saponins. The flavonoid was almost inactive. Finally, the radical-scavenging activity of the ethanolic extract was tested in presence of ABTS·+ solution. A decrease of the absorbance intensity was observed, with an IC50 value of 22.1 ± 0.6μg/mLwhile trolox, used as Standard drug, showed a pronounced activity (IC50 = 12.7±0.5μM). The glycoside 1 showed the lowest IC50 value of 20.1 ± 0.8μM while both 2 and 3 exhibited very weak radical scavenging activity