Phytochemical studies on the aerial parts of Origanum minutiflorum (Lamiaceae)

The genus Origanum (Lamiaceae) is represented by about 38 species worldwide [1]. There are 22 Origanum species (27 taxa) in Turkey, 13 taxa of which are endemic [2–3]. Origanum minutiflorum is an endemic and commercial species for Turkey [2]. It is used as a herbal tea in Turkey. In this study, two triterpenic acids (ursolic acid (1) and oleanolic acid (2)) and three phenolic compounds (rosmarinic acid (3), 4-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyloxymethyl)phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-propionic acid (danshensu) (5)) were isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Origanum minutiflorum using several chromatographic methods. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated by using ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR Spectroscopy, and ESI-MS.

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Mehmet Koyuncu (Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Ankara) for identification of the plant material and Prof. Dr. Ihsan Çalis (Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Ankara) for structure elucidation of the compounds.

References: 1. Evans W.C. (1989) Trease and Evans' Pharmacognosy, 13th ed. Bailliere Tindall: London, Great Britain.

2. Ietswaart J.H. (1982) Origanum L., In: Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, (edited by P.H. Davis), Vol. 7, pp. 297–313, University Press, Edinburg, UK.

3. Duman H. (2000) Origanum L., In: Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands (edited by Güner A, Özhatay N, Ekim T, Baser KHC), Vol. 11, p.207, Supplement 2, University Press, Edinburgh, UK.