Planta Med 2010; 76 - P51
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1251813

Zygophylloside S, a New Triterpenoid Saponin from the Aerial Parts of Zygophyllum coccineum L.

E Amin 1, 3, SS El-Hawary 2, MM Fathy 2, R Mohammed 1, Z Ali 3, IA Khan 3, 4
  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
  • 2Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
  • 3National Center for Natural Product Research, University of Mississippi, Mississippi 38677, USA
  • 4Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA

Saponins are a vast group of glycosides with a wide range of biological activities [1]. They are believed to form the main constituents of many plant drugs and folk medicines [2]. Their pharmacological importance has motivated us to contribute to the study of Zygophyllum coccineum L., an Egyptian desert plant rich in saponins. The present work led to the isolation of one new ursane type triterpenoid saponin (1), 3-O-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl] quinovic acid (zygophylloside S), in addition to eight known saponins, one flavonoid glycoside, and one sterol glycoside from the aerial parts of the plant. The structures were established mainly by 1D and 2D NMR techniques, in combination with IR and HRMS. The anti-microbial, anti-malarial, and anti-leishmanial activity of the isolated compounds are in progress.

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Acknowledgements: Thanks go to the Egyptian Government, for supporting my fellowship through The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. References: [1] Sparg SG, Van Staden J (2004)J. of Ethnopharmacolaogy, 94(2–3): 219–243. [2] Estrada, A, Barl B (2000). Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 23: 27–43.