Phytochemical study on the aerial parts of Scrophularia atropatana and Assessment of antioxidant & general toxicity activities

Abstract

The genus Scrophularia has a relatively wide distribution throughout the world. This genus has also been found to possess antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and diuretic activities and has been used in the treatment of mental, nervous and gastrointestinal disorders. Approximatly 60 species of this genus were found widely in Iran. Studies of chemical compounds of Scrophularia have proven that this genus is rich in phenylethanoids, Phenols and iridoids. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical components and bioactivities of S. atropatana. Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of S. atropatana using Clevenger type apparatus. The antioxidant activity and general toxicity of essential oil were determind and then its compounds were studied by GC-MS. Non –volatile components of plants were extracted using n-hexan, dichloromethane and methanol respectively as solvents by soxhlet method and then antioxidant activities and general toxicity of the extracts were determind. Due to the high antioxidant activity of the methanol extract, it was fractionated by the SPE method. Then the total activity of each fraction was determined and in the following H-NMR spectra of the fractions were recorded. Finally, the relationship between antioxidant activity and structure of chemical compounds in each fraction were discussed. Result and discussion: Antioxidant activity of methanolic extract was higher compared to the other extracts. The dichloromethane and n-hexane extracts showed weak antioxidant activities. In brine shrimp lethality assay, Some fractions showed moderate to low general toxicity. Phytochemical analysis of the essential oil of this plant led to the identification of 68 compounds. H-NMR spectra showed that fractions obtained from methanol extract containing sugar compounds, phenolic compounds (flavonoid) and the terpenoid glycoside, which among the terpenoid components of essential oil , Linalool (%18.82) was a main compound.