Planta Med 2013; 79 - PN31
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348712

Biologically Active Phenolic Metabolites from Asphodelus microcarpus

MM Ghoneim 1, 4, AA El-Hela 4, AEI Mohammad 4, SJ Cutler 3, SA Ross 1, 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy
  • 3Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
  • 4Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Al-Azhar, Cairo 11371, Egypt

Bioassay guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Asphodelus microcarpus Salzm.et Vivi (Asphodelaceae) resulted in the isolation of two new compounds: 1, 6-dimethoxy-3-naphthoic acid (1), methyl 1, 4, 5-trihydroxy-7-methyl-9, 10 dioxo-9, 10-dihydroxyanthracene-2-carboxylate (2), as well as ten known compounds: asphodelin, chrysophanol, 8-methoxy chrysophanol, 2-acetyl,1,8-dimethoxy,3-methyl naphthalene, 10-(chrysophanol-7′-yl)-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone, aloesaponol III -8-methyl ether, aestivin, emodin and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Compound aestivin showed antimalarial activities against both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values in the range of 0.84 – 0.72 µg/mL without showing any cytotoxicity to the mammalian cells.