Planta Med 2010; 76 - P370
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264668

Phytochemical studies on Galanthus fosteri Baker

N Unver Somer 1, B Sarikaya 1, I Kaya 1, M Onur 1, J Bastida 2
  • 1Ege University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Bornova, 35100 Izmir, Turkey
  • 2Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat de Farmacia, Departament de Productes Naturals, Biologia Vegetal i Edafologia, Departament de Productes Naturals, Biologia Vegetal i Edafologia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

The genus Galanthus L. (Amaryllidaceae) is represented by 14 species (15 taxa) in Turkey [1, 2]. Among these species, G. fosteri Baker occurs mainly in south- and north-central Turkey [3]. Galanthus species are known to possess Amaryllidaceae alkaloids with interesting chemical structures and biological activities [4,5]. The most well-known alkaloid of this group, galanthamine, has acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and therefore it is used in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease [6]. In the course of our ongoing phytochemical studies on Turkish Galanthus species, G. fosteri has been investigated for its chemical profile. As a result, six known Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, ismine, tazettine, galanthamine, 9-O-demethylhomolycorine, sanguinine and lycorine were isolated by using column and preparative thin layer chromatography. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods (1D, 2D NMR and MS). The present study is the first phytochemical report on G. fosteri.

Acknowledgements: This study was financially supported by TUBITAK (TBAG-104T272) and EBILTEM (2007-BIL-007). B. Sarikaya was a recipient of TUBITAK research fellowship.

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3. Davis, A.P. (1999) The genus Galanthus Timber Press Inc., Oregon.

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6. Heinrich, M., Teoh, H.L. (2004)J Ethnopharm 92:147–162.