Planta Med 2015; 81 - PM_52
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565429

Chemical constituents of Artemisia asiatica roots

Z Hajdú 1, A Zana 2, N Jedlinszki 1, I Máthé 1, 3, G Dombi 2, J Hohmann 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
  • 3Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Vácrátót, Hungary

Characteristic secondary metabolites of the genus Artemisia are terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, caffeoylquinic acids and acetylenes. Some Artemisia species possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties. In earlier studies cytoprotective, antioxidative, xanthine oxidase inhibitory and antiproliferative activities of A. asiatica have been reported [1 – 4]. In contrast to the promising pharmacological properties, the chemistry of the plant, especially the roots, has not been studied thoroughly, therefore the aim of our study was the investigation of the chemical constituents of the roots.

Dried roots were extracted with MeOH, and this extract was partitioned between n-hexane, CHCl3 and H2O. The n-hexane and CHCl3 phases were separated by CC, VLC, CPC and PLC, affording 6-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-chromene (1), 6-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-chromene (2), 1-(5-acetyl-2,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-3-methyl-butan-1-one, (-)-6-hydroxytremetone, (E)-coniferyl aldehyde, and 6α-D-2-[(2,4,6-triisovaleryl)-glucosyl]-β-D-(1,6-diisovaleryl)-fructose (3). The compounds, including the relative stereochemistry, were identified by 1H- and 13C-NMR, 1H,1H-COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC experiments.

All isolated compounds were described for the first time from A. asiatica, and 1, 2 and 3 are new natural products, On comparison of the chemical constituents of the aerial parts [3, 4] and roots it can be stated that the composition of the plant organs is different. In the aerial parts flavonoids, sesquiterpenes are the typical compounds, but in case of the root prenylated acetophenones, (E)-coniferyl aldehyde and a sucrose ester predominated.

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