Planta Med 2008; 74 - PB145
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084490

New terpenoids from Thymus teucrioides subsp. candilicus

D Pitarokili 1, E Ioannou 1, O Tzakou 1, C Vagias 1, V Roussis 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece

Thymus is one of the eight most important genera of Labiatae family in regard to the number of species it includes [1]. Thymus sect. teucrioides is a morphologically distinct group, endemic to Greece and Albania. Thymus teucrioides Boiss. & Spruner subsp. candilicus (Beauverd) Hartvig is one of the three perennial and polymorphic species which belong to the above-mentioned group, growing at an altitude of 500 to 2500m [2].

Phytochemical investigation of the organic extract of the aerial parts of T. teucrioides subsp. candilicus afforded the previously reported thymoquinone, thymol, β-bisabolene, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid. In addition, 6-hydroxy-thymoquinone (1), reported for the first time as a natural product, and the new ursane derivative 2 were isolated and identified. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was based on analyses of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, IR, MS).

References: 1. Mabberley, D.J. (1997) The Plant Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.

2. Hartvig, P. (1987) Pl. Syst. Evol. 155:197–213.