New terpenoid and phenolic metabolites from Euphorbia gossypina var. coccinea Pax

Plants of the genus Euphorbia are known to possess considerable chemical, medicinal and economic importance [1]. Terpenes, including diterpenes and triterpenes, steroids, cerebrosides, glycerols, and phenolic compounds are the main constituents of Euphorbia species [2]. In the course of our work, Euphorbia gossypina var. coccinea, a much-branched, succulent, evergreen shrub native to Kenya, was investigated. It is used in folk medicine to treat swollen legs and general body pain. There is no literature data about the phytochemistry and pharmacology of the plant.The dried and ground plant material was extracted with methanol. After concentration, the extract was dissolved in 50% aqueous methanol, and solvent–solvent partition was performed with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The chloroform phase was further separated by normal and reversed phase vacuum liquid chromatography and then it was purified by preparative thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Structure elucidation of the compounds was carried out by NMR and MS spectroscopy as well as by comparison the data with literature values.

The compounds were tested for their antiproliferative activity against HeLa cell line using the MTT assay. Thirteen compounds, among them two new and one known lignans, seven new and one known pregnane aglycones and glycosides and two flavonoids were identified from the chloroform extract of E. gossypina var. coccinea. Pregnane glycosides are substituted with thevetose, cymarose, digitoxose and glucose. All compounds were determined for the first time from the plant. None of the compounds showed antiproliferative effect against HeLa cell line in vitro.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

• References

• 1 Vasas A, Hohmann J. Chem. Rev. 2014, 114, 8579−8612.
• 2 Shi Q-W, Su X-H, Kiyota H. Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 4295–4327.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021