Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

06:04
Source and Route of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Contamination in Tea Samples
Published on: September 28, 2022
Pyranocoumarins from Zosima absinthifolia (Vent) Link roots
Seyed Mehdi Razavi1, Gholamhasan Imanzadeh, Fatemeh Soghra Jahed
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. razavi694@gmail.com
Bioorganicheskaia Khimiia
|August 23, 2013
Summary
Zosima absinthifolia roots yielded two pyranocoumarins, aegelinol and agasyllin. These compounds demonstrated modest to weak antibacterial and antifungal activity in laboratory tests.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Ethnobotany
Background:
- Zosima absinthifolia (Vent) Link (Apiaceae) is a perennial herb with a history of traditional medicinal use in Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan.
- The plant's indigenous origin and historical applications suggest potential for novel bioactive compound discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify bioactive compounds from the roots of Zosima absinthifolia.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the isolated compounds.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of air-dried, powdered Zosima absinthifolia roots using n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol via Soxhlet apparatus.
- Isolation of compounds using vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and preparative thin-layer chromatography (P-TLC).
- Antimicrobial activity assessment using the agar dilution method.
Main Results:
- Two pyranocoumarins, aegelinol and agasyllin, were successfully isolated from the dichloromethane extract.
- The purified compounds exhibited modest to weak activity against tested bacteria and fungi.
Conclusions:
- Aegelinol and agasyllin are identified as constituents of Zosima absinthifolia roots.
- The isolated pyranocoumarins possess limited antimicrobial potential.
Related Concept Videos
Fungal Group Zygomycota
Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
Introduction to Plant Diversity
From Water to Land
Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling
The reaction of weakly electrophilic aryldiazonium (also called arenediazonium) salts with highly activated aromatic compounds leads to the formation of products with an —N=N— link, called an azo linkage. This reaction, presented in Figure 1, is known as diazo coupling and occurs without the loss of the nitrogen atoms of the aryldiazonium salt. Highly activated aromatic compounds such as phenols or arylamines favor the diazo coupling reaction. The coupling generally occurs at the para position.
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.

