Planta Med 2008; 74 - PB152
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084497

Pimarane-type diterpene analogues from Nigella sativa

Z Ali 1, IA Khan 1, 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research and
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, MS 38677, USA

Black cumin (seeds of Nigella sativa) has been used for centuries in Middle Eastern folk medicine for asthma, flatulence, polio, kidney stones, abdominal pain, lactation deficiency, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac and sexual diseases. [1,2,3]. Two new pimarane-type diterpene glycosides, nigellasides A (1) and B (2) and one new sulfated pimarane-type diterpene, nigellaone sulfate (3) were isolated from the seeds of Nigella sativa. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemicals methods.

Acknowledgement: The work was supported by the United States Food and Drug Administration grant number U01 FD 002071–07.

References: 1. Abu-Irmaileh, B. E., Afifi, F.U. (2003)J. Ethnopharmacol. 89: 193–197. 2. Eddouks, M. et al. (2002)J. Ethnopharmacol. 82: 97–103. 3. Said, O. et al. (2002)J. Ethnopharmacol. 83: 251–265.