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About the bufadienolide complex of "red" squill.
1Institut für Pharmakognosie der Universität Wien, Währinger Str. 25, A-1090 Wien, Austria.
Planta Medica
|February 1, 1994
Summary
Bufadienolide composition in red squill (Urginea maritima aggregate) bulbs differs significantly between northern and southern Mediterranean regions. This study details the specific bufadienolide profiles found in samples from Tunisia and Sardinia, revealing qualitative and quantitative variations.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Pharmacognosy
- Plant Taxonomy
Background:
- The Urginea maritima aggregate, commonly known as red squill, is a plant species complex found across the Mediterranean.
- Previous research indicated potential variations in bufadienolide content within this aggregate based on geographical origin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the bufadienolide composition of red squill bulbs from Tunisia (southern Mediterranean) and Sardinia (northern Mediterranean).
- To identify and characterize individual bufadienolides present in these geographically distinct samples.
- To determine if observed differences support classification as distinct chemodemes or species within the Urginea maritima aggregate.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and purification of bufadienolides from tetraploid red squill bulbs using chromatographic techniques.
- Structural elucidation of isolated compounds via Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FAB-MS), proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ((1)H-NMR), and carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ((13)C-NMR) spectroscopy.
- Comparison of spectral data with authentic substances for compound identification.
Main Results:
- Twelve bufadienolides were isolated from Tunisian samples, and sixteen from Sardinian samples.
- Both regions shared common bufadienolides, including scilliroside and proscillaridin A.
- Significant qualitative and quantitative differences in the bufadienolide profiles were observed between Tunisian and Sardinian red squill, with several new compounds identified in each region.
Conclusions:
- The bufadienolide profiles of red squill from Tunisia and Sardinia exhibit distinct qualitative and quantitative variations.
- These chemical differences may indicate the presence of distinct chemodemes within Urginea numidica or potentially represent different species within the Urginea maritima aggregate.
- Further taxonomic and chemical investigations are warranted to clarify the status of these geographically separated populations.
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