Planta Med 2010; 76 - P047
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264345

Bioactive secondary metabolites from Tunisian medicinal plants

A Jabrane 1, H Ben Jannet 2, T Miyamoto 3, J Mirjolet 4, O Duchamp 5, F Harzallah Skhiri 6, M Lacaille-Dubois 7
  • 1University of Burgundy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, EA 3660, 7, Bd Jeanne D'Arc, 21079 Dijon, France
  • 2Université de Monastir Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances naturelles et de synthèse organique, Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
  • 3Kyushu University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maidashi Higashi Ku 3–1-1 Fukuoka, Japan
  • 4Oncodesign, 20, rue Jean Mazen, 21627 Dijon, France
  • 5Oncodesign, 20, rue Jean Mazen Dijon, France
  • 6Université de Monastir, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie, Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
  • 7University of Burgundy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, EA 3660, 7, Bd Jeanne d'Arc, 21079 Dijon, France

The Tunisian biodiversity has been the subject of several biological and chemical investigations [1–3]. In the aim to continue our efforts to develop the Tunisian natural resources, we undertook phytochemical and biological studies of some plants selected according to their wealth essentially of terpenoids. We studied some Apiaceae (Ferulago, Ferula), Liliaceae (Allium) and Chenopodiaceae (Atriplex) representatives. Some of these genus are known for their high content in essential oils and terpenoids (sesquiterpenoids, coumarins, triterpenoids and steroids) [4–6], and for their pharmacological properties in particular immunostimulant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-mutagenic, hypotensive and hypoglycemic activities. Our analytic and preparative chromatographic studies on some organic extracts (MPLC, VLC, CC, PTLC) led to isolation of 25 pure compounds (coumarins, sesquiterpene-coumarins, terpenes, phenols and saponins). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence mainly 1D (1H, 13C) and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY). Some of the prepared extracts (non volatile and essential oils) and pure compounds were tested for their cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities.

Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to the IFC-Tunisie (Institut Français de Coopération en Tunisie) for a scholarship to A. J.

References: 1. Jabrane, A et al. (2009) Chem. Biodiv. 6:881–889.

2. Jabrane, A et al. (2010) Chem. Biodiv. 7:392–399.

3. Ghouila, H et al. (2009) Tetrahedron Lett. 50:1563–1565.

4. Abd El-Razek, M H. et al., (2001), Phytochem. 58:1289.

5. Hostettmann, K., Marston, A. (1995). Saponins. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

6. Siddiqui, B. S et al. (1994) Phytochem. 37:1123–1125.