Planta Med 2010; 76 - P116
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264414

Phytochemical investigations of Piper sarmentosum and Zanthoxyllum gilletii

M Blunder 1, P Wirnsperger 1, T Mair 1, O Kunert 2, R Bauer 1
  • 1Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Departmanet of Pharmacognosy, Universitätsplatz 4/I (Pharmakognosie), 8010 Graz, Austria
  • 2Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Schuberstrasse 1, 8010 Graz, Austria

In the course of our work on anti-inflammatory herbs we investigated extracts of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. (syn. Piper lolot C. DC; Piperaceae) and Zanthoxyllum gilletii (De Wild.) Waterman (syn. Fagara macrophylla (Oliv.) Engl.; Rutaceae). Extracts of Piper sarmentosum are used in traditional Thai and Chinese medicine for the treatment of toothache, oedemas, fever, common cold and rheumatism. [1] In African and traditional Chinese medicine Zanthoxyllum gilletii is applied for the treatment of rheumatism, headache, stomach-ache, and toothache. [2] The dichloromethane extracts of these plants were subjected to phytochemical analysis by combining different chromatographic means like LC, SPE and prep HPLC. A variety of secondary constituents could be isolated and was structurally elucidated using UV, 1D (1H, 13C) and 2D NMR (DQF-COSY, HMBC, HSQC) experiments and mass spectroscopy. From Piper sarmentosum extracts of both, herba and radix et caulis, were prepared. Among the isolated compounds pyrrole and pyrrolidine amides, phenolic compounds, and a new ester of 3-(4′-methoxy-phenyl)-propionic acid were identified. The investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the bark of Zanthoxyllum gilletii revealed the presence of aromatic amides like pyrrole amide (e.g. fagaramide), alkylamides, lignans (e.g. sesamin) and coumarins.

References: 1. Li, C.-Y. et al. (2007)J. Agric. Food Chem. 55:9436–9442.

2. Wansi, J.D. et al. (2009) Planta Med. 75:517–521.