Planta Med 2014; 80 - LP15
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1395076

Phenolics, essential oil and biological activity of Conyza dioscoridis growing in Egypt

M Nassar 1, A Elshamy 1, AEN El Gendy 2
  • 1Department of Natural Compounds Chemistry, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12311, Cairo, Egypt
  • 2Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, National Research Centre, Dokki 12311, Cairo, Egypt

Conyza dioscoridis (L.) Desf. (family Asteraceae) is widely distributed in the Middle East and surrounding African countries. C. dioscoridis is used in folk medicine as a popular remedy to relieve rheumatic pains, carminative and colic. The previous studies reported that C. dioscoridis exhibits anti-diarrheal, a diuretic, antihyperglycemic, antiulerogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic effects [1 – 3]. Chemically, several compounds have been isolated from C. dioscoridis such as flavonoids, steroids, sesquiterpenoids [2]. In this study, the chemical investigation of the methanol extract of C. dioscoridis shoots resulted to isolation of four flavonoids, kampferol, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and quercetin 3-O-6''-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, along with two phenolic acids, caffiec acid and chlorogenic acid. All isolated compounds were identified by UV, NMR and MS. The essential oil of the shoots of C. discoridis was obtained by hydro-distillation. Fifty compounds were identified by GC/MS in the essential oil. The main constituents were α-gurjunene (10.79%), isocomene (9.84%), δ-cadinene (8.15%), P-gurjunene (6.71%) and 6-epi-shyobunol (5.94%). Ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts of the herb showed significant antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging method. These extracts of the plant showed moderate antidiabetic activity using albino rats.

Keywords: Conyza dioscoridis, flavonoids, essential oil, antioxidant, antidiabetic

References:

[1] Zalabani SM, Hetta MH, Ismail AS. Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activity of the Different Conyza dioscoridis L. Desf. Organs. Biosafety 2013; 2: 106.

[2] Awaad AS, El-meligy RM, Qenawy SA, Atta AH, Soliman GA. Anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic effects of some desert plants. J Saudi Chem Soc 2011; 15: 367 – 373.

[3] Zain ME, Awaad AS, Al-Outhman MR, El-Meligy RM. Antimicrobial activities of Saudi Arabian desert plants. Phytopharmacol 2012; 2: 106 – 113.