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Biologically active secondary metabolites from Asphodelus microcarpus
Mohammed M Ghoneim1, Guoyi Ma, Atef A El-Hela
1National Center for Natural Products Research School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
Natural Product Communications
|October 2, 2013
Summary
This study isolated ten compounds from Asphodelus microcarpus, including one new metabolite. Several compounds demonstrated significant antimicrobial and antimalarial activities, with compound 10 showing potent efficacy against Plasmodium falciparum.
Area of Science:
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- Asphodelus microcarpus is a plant species with a history of traditional medicinal use.
- Ethnobotanical surveys suggest potential for novel therapeutic compounds within this species.
- Previous phytochemical investigations of Asphodelus species have identified various bioactive secondary metabolites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize chemical constituents from the ethanolic extract of Asphodelus microcarpus.
- To evaluate the isolated compounds for various biological activities, including antileishmanial, antifungal, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antimalarial effects.
- To identify new metabolites and known compounds with potential therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Asphodelus microcarpus.
- Structure elucidation of isolated compounds using 1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and High-Resolution Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (HRESIMS).
- In vitro evaluation of antileishmanial, antifungal, antibacterial (against MRSA and S. aureus), cytotoxic (against leukemia cell lines), and antimalarial (against Plasmodium falciparum) activities.
Main Results:
- One new metabolite, 1,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-2-naphthoic acid, and nine known compounds were isolated.
- Compounds 3, 6, and 10 were reported for the first time from this species.
- Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited antileishmanial activity; compound 4 showed antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans.
- Compounds 5, 7, and 10 displayed potent activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); compounds 5, 8, and 9 were active against S. aureus.
- Compounds 7 and 9 showed cytotoxic effects on leukemia cell lines; compound 10 demonstrated potent antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum without mammalian cell toxicity.
Conclusions:
- The phytochemical investigation of Asphodelus microcarpus yielded a diverse array of compounds with significant biological activities.
- Compound 10 (aestivin) is a promising candidate for further development as an antimalarial agent due to its high potency and low toxicity.
- The study highlights the therapeutic potential of Asphodelus microcarpus and provides a basis for future drug discovery efforts.
