Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_047
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-986829

Biological study and flavonoids of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Leguminosae)

MA Marzouk 1, MT Ibrahim 2, OR El-Gindi 2, M Mahmoud 3, MS Abou Bakr 2
  • 1Natural Products Group (Nobel Project), National Research Centre, El-Behoos St. 31, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
  • 3Department of Pharmacology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt

In two recent phytochemical studies [1,2], the flavonoides of Pongamia pinnata fruits were studied. Because of the broad structural and biological variation of Pongamia extracts [3–6], our study aimed at the isolation of flavonoids in the 70% aqueous methanol extract (AME) of Pongamia pinnata leaves and evaluation of its hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. Successive column chromatographic separation has led to isolation of two new isoflavonoids, genistein 4'-O-methyl ether 7-O-β-D-rutinoside and 2',5'-dimethoxy-genistein 7-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1'''→6“)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and a new rotenoid, 12a-hydroxy-α-toxicarol, together with seven metabolites, vicenin-2, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-rutinoside, rutin, vitexin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 11,12a-dihydroxy-munduserone, kaempferol, and quercetin. The structures were established by UV, ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR [1–3,5,7]. As a conclusion for the biological studies on male Swiss Albino mice (18–20g) infected with Egyptian Schistosoma mansoni 100±10 cercariae/mouse [8] and rats (100–150g), it was found that the AME is non-toxic to mice (LD50 up to 4g.Kg-1 b.wt, the maximum soluble dose). At the two dose levels (100 and 200mg Kg-1 b. wt.), it improved significantly the liver functions i.e reduced the elevated ALT and GGT serum levels in comparison with praziquantel and reduced the MDA and GSH levels in liver homogenate, in comparison with silymarin. Also, it showed significant hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory activities at the dose levels of 50 and 200mg Kg-1 b.wt, respectively. Moreover, a significant reduction of granuloma diameter and esenophilic counts was recorded through a histopathological investigation on treatment with AME (200mg Kg-1 b. wt.), in comparison with mofebutazone.

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