Ten new withanolides from Physalis peruviana

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Phytochemistry
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Physalis peruviana, commonly known as the goldenberry or cape gooseberry, is a plant species with a rich history of traditional medicinal use.
• Withanolides are a class of steroidal lactones derived from plants of the Solanaceae family, known for their diverse biological activities.
• The chemical investigation of Physalis species has yielded numerous bioactive compounds, highlighting their potential as sources for novel therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize new withanolide compounds from the aerial parts of Physalis peruviana.
• To elucidate the structures of these novel compounds using comprehensive spectroscopic and chemical methods.
• To contribute to the phytochemical knowledge of Physalis peruviana and identify potential lead compounds for further research.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of compounds from the aerial parts of Physalis peruviana using chromatographic techniques.
• Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds through extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS).
• Confirmation of structures using chemical methods.

Main Results:

• Ten new withanolides were successfully isolated and characterized: four perulactone-type withanolides (perulactones E-H, compounds 1-4), three 28-hydroxy-withanolides (withaperuvins I-K, compounds 5-7), and three other withanolides (withaperuvins L-N, compounds 8-10).
• Six known compounds (compounds 11-16) were also identified, providing a broader phytochemical profile of the plant.
• The structures were rigorously determined based on detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and chemical transformations.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified ten novel withanolides and six known compounds from the aerial parts of Physalis peruviana.
• The findings expand the known diversity of withanolides and provide valuable chemical information about this important medicinal plant.
• These newly isolated compounds represent potential candidates for further investigation into their pharmacological properties and therapeutic applications.