Phytochemical study on Ferulago stellata Boiss. and Ferulago bernardii Tomk. & Pimenov

Abstract

Objective: The genus Ferulago W. Koch. (is a member of the Apiaceae family, including 49 species that are frequently growing in some parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Ferulago species are broadly employed in traditional medicine for their sedative, aphrodisiac, digestive and tonic properties. Scope: regarding the importance of reported biological effects of the isolated compounds from this genus, it seems to be rational to start phytochemical and biological studies on the species growing in the country. Methods and materials: The aerial part, fruits and roots of both plant were extracted with n-hexene, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate and methanol (MeOH) by soxhlet extractor. Dried methanolic were subjected to C18 Sep-Pak fractionation using step gradient of MeOH-H2O. Further purification of fraction was performed by preparative TLC. Preliminary fractionation of n-hexene, (DCM), and ethyl acetate were carried out by Column Chromatography and Vacuum Liquid Chromatography. Strcucture eluciation of compunds was accomplished using 1H NMR and 13CNMR. The essential oils of the plants attained by hydrodistillation method using Clevenger apartus and their compositions was deteminded via coupled GC/MS. Fatty acid content of n-hexene of fruits part were analysed by GC-MS as well. Furthermore, anti-oxidant, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, general toxicity and anti-alzhimer activity of the extracts were determinded. Results: Phytochemical investigation of the extracts led to the isolation of eleven compounds. Rutin, and narcisin were obtained from the 40% methanolic extract of Ferulago bernardii aerial part and 2″-Senecioyl oxymarmesin was obtained from the n-hexane extract of the roots. The compound 2″-Senecioyl oxymarmesin was also obtained from the n-hexane extract of the roots and shoots of Ferulago stellata. Rutin, quercetin, tectocracin, and herniarin compounds were isolated from the 60% methanolic fraction of aerial parts. The result of the fatty acid profile demonstrated that the fruits were rich source of unsaturated fatty acids including oleic acid and linoleic acid. Analisis of the essential oils showed that most of the constituents have non terpene structure and the 2,4,6- trimethyl benzaldehyde was the main compound. Conclusion: Presences of falvoniod and coumarin constituents seems to be an important feature in Ferulago species which might play key role for observed biological activity of both plants.