Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Certain Species from the Genus Rumex (Family Polygonaceae) Growing in Egypt
Enaam Mohamed Ahmed Hassan AbouZeid;
Abstract
The genus Rumex L., belonging to the Polygonaceae comprises approximately 200 species, which are widely distributed worldwide. Rumex spp. have been used as both food and medicine by many different cultures. Rumex spp. have diuretic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Moreover, Rumex spp. have commonly been used to treat skin conditions, urinary tract disorders and cancer. This thesis aimed for the performance of phytochemical studies and evaluation of certain biological activities, especially anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the aerial parts of Rumex pictus Forssk. and Rumex vesicarius L. grown in Egypt.
The present work is divided into three parts:
Part I: Phytochemical Study.
This included:
1. Phytochemical screening.
2. Investigation of the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
3. Investigation of the lipoidal matter of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
4. Investigation of the carbohydrate content of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
5. Investigation of the protein and amino acid content of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
6. Quantitative estimation of total phenolic and flavonoidal contents of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
Part II: Biological Study.
This included:
1. Determination of acute toxicity.
2. Evaluation of the in vivo anti inflammatory activity.
3. Determination of the in vitro cytotoxic activity.
4. Determination of the in vitro antimicrobial activity.
Part III: Phytochemical investigation of bioactive extract.
This included the isolation and structure elucidation of the biologically active compounds from the 70% aqueous methanolic extract of the aerial parts of R. pictus.
Part I: Phytochemical study:
1. Phytochemical screening:
Preliminary phytochemical screening of the two plants under investigation was performed and revealed that both R. pictus and R. vesicarius contained volatiles, carbohydrates and/or glycosides, flavonoids, anthraquinones, sterols and/or terpenes and tannins. The percentage yield of the successive extracts prepared by different organic solvents was determined for the two species. These extractives were screened for different phytochemical constituents. The petroleum ether, diethyl ether and chloroformic extracts of both species were rich in sterols and/or terpenes. While, the 70% methanolic extracts of the two species contained appreciable amounts of carbohydrates and/or glycosides, flavonoids and tannins. Anthraquinones were present in the chloroformic and methanolic extracts of both. Whereas, alkaloids and/or nitrogenous bases, saponins and coumarins were all totally absent.
2. Investigation of the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius:
The volatile constituents of the fresh aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared by steam distillation and were analyzed by GC/MS. The results of the GC/MS analysis of the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. pictus revealed the identification of 42 compounds representing about 90.94% of the total volatile constituents. The major components were found to be hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (7.29%), n-nonanal (6.18%), safranal (4.52%) and n-heptacosane (4.10%). While, the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. vesicarius was found to contain a total of 32 compounds representing 74.23% of the total volatile constituents. The principal components were found to be n-hexadecane (5.39%), n-octadecane (4.33%), 2E-decenal (3.41%) and n-heptadecane (3.35%).
3. Investigation of the lipoidal matter of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius:
The unsaponifiable and saponifiable matter of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared and analyzed using GC/MS. GC/MS analysis of the USM of the petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of R. pictus revealed the identification of 28 compounds constituting 90.84 % of the total USM content, of which butylated hydroxytoluene (19.08%), cycloeicosane (10.97%), 1-hexadecene (9.71%) and phytol (8.53%) were the main components. In case of R. vesicarius, GC-MS analysis of the USM revealed the identification of 20 compounds constituting 80.8% of the total USM content, of which n-nonacosane (18.53%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (17.87%), n- hentriacontane (12.49%) and butylated hydroxytoluene (6.25%) were the main components. GC/MS analysis of the FAME of the aerial parts of R. pictus revealed the identification of 16 FAME derivatives; representing 69.14% of the total composition. While that of R. vesicarius revealed the identification of 10 FAME derivatives, representing 44.15% of the total composition. The major fatty acids identified in R. pictus were palmitic (28.16%), stearic (25.71%) and oleic (4.66%), while in R. vesicarius the major fatty acids were ricinoleic (13.7%), palmitic (10.3%) and oleic (6.54%).
4. Investigation of the carbohydrate content of R. pictus and R. vesicarius aerial parts:
This includes the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the carbohydrate content of the two species under investigation, including both free sugars and polysaccharides. The free sugars of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared and analyzed by PC and HPLC for their identification. Qualitative paper chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of glucose, fructose, sucrose and mannitol in both species. This was confirmed by HPLC analysis, which showed that major sugar in R. pictus and R. vesicarius was sucrose (19.62% and 20.64%), respectively. The polysaccharides of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared. The yield of the isolated polysaccharide was 2.28% w/w as compared to the dry weight of the dry aerial parts of R. pictus and 6.73% w/w as compared to the dry aerial parts of R. vesicarius. Prepared polysaccharides were acid hydrolyzed and analyzed by PC and GLC for their identification. Qualitative PC and quantitative GLC analysis of polysaccharide hydrolysate of R. pictus revealed the presence of arabinose (5.74%), ribose (0.20%), rhamnose (3.40%), sorbitol (2.10%), galactose (5.56%) and glucose (12.27%). While that of R. vesicarius revealed the presence of arabinose (8.28%), ribose (2.30%), rhamnose (11.31%), galactose (10.90%) and glucose (7.25%).
5. Investigation of the protein and amino acid content of R. pictus and R. vesicarius aerial parts:
The total protein content of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius was found to be 12.94% and 6.06%, respectively. The analysis of the amino acid content of the aerial parts of both species revealed the presence of phenylalanine, threonine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine and lysine as essential amino acids in the two species with different proportions. The major essential amino acids in R. pictus and R. vesicarius were leucine (11.23%) and phenyl alanine (12.35%), respectively. While, the major non essential amino acid in both species was glutamic acid. Tyrosine (4.66%) non essential amino acid was present in R. pictus, only.
The present work is divided into three parts:
Part I: Phytochemical Study.
This included:
1. Phytochemical screening.
2. Investigation of the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
3. Investigation of the lipoidal matter of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
4. Investigation of the carbohydrate content of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
5. Investigation of the protein and amino acid content of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
6. Quantitative estimation of total phenolic and flavonoidal contents of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius.
Part II: Biological Study.
This included:
1. Determination of acute toxicity.
2. Evaluation of the in vivo anti inflammatory activity.
3. Determination of the in vitro cytotoxic activity.
4. Determination of the in vitro antimicrobial activity.
Part III: Phytochemical investigation of bioactive extract.
This included the isolation and structure elucidation of the biologically active compounds from the 70% aqueous methanolic extract of the aerial parts of R. pictus.
Part I: Phytochemical study:
1. Phytochemical screening:
Preliminary phytochemical screening of the two plants under investigation was performed and revealed that both R. pictus and R. vesicarius contained volatiles, carbohydrates and/or glycosides, flavonoids, anthraquinones, sterols and/or terpenes and tannins. The percentage yield of the successive extracts prepared by different organic solvents was determined for the two species. These extractives were screened for different phytochemical constituents. The petroleum ether, diethyl ether and chloroformic extracts of both species were rich in sterols and/or terpenes. While, the 70% methanolic extracts of the two species contained appreciable amounts of carbohydrates and/or glycosides, flavonoids and tannins. Anthraquinones were present in the chloroformic and methanolic extracts of both. Whereas, alkaloids and/or nitrogenous bases, saponins and coumarins were all totally absent.
2. Investigation of the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius:
The volatile constituents of the fresh aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared by steam distillation and were analyzed by GC/MS. The results of the GC/MS analysis of the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. pictus revealed the identification of 42 compounds representing about 90.94% of the total volatile constituents. The major components were found to be hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (7.29%), n-nonanal (6.18%), safranal (4.52%) and n-heptacosane (4.10%). While, the volatile constituents of the aerial parts of R. vesicarius was found to contain a total of 32 compounds representing 74.23% of the total volatile constituents. The principal components were found to be n-hexadecane (5.39%), n-octadecane (4.33%), 2E-decenal (3.41%) and n-heptadecane (3.35%).
3. Investigation of the lipoidal matter of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius:
The unsaponifiable and saponifiable matter of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared and analyzed using GC/MS. GC/MS analysis of the USM of the petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of R. pictus revealed the identification of 28 compounds constituting 90.84 % of the total USM content, of which butylated hydroxytoluene (19.08%), cycloeicosane (10.97%), 1-hexadecene (9.71%) and phytol (8.53%) were the main components. In case of R. vesicarius, GC-MS analysis of the USM revealed the identification of 20 compounds constituting 80.8% of the total USM content, of which n-nonacosane (18.53%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (17.87%), n- hentriacontane (12.49%) and butylated hydroxytoluene (6.25%) were the main components. GC/MS analysis of the FAME of the aerial parts of R. pictus revealed the identification of 16 FAME derivatives; representing 69.14% of the total composition. While that of R. vesicarius revealed the identification of 10 FAME derivatives, representing 44.15% of the total composition. The major fatty acids identified in R. pictus were palmitic (28.16%), stearic (25.71%) and oleic (4.66%), while in R. vesicarius the major fatty acids were ricinoleic (13.7%), palmitic (10.3%) and oleic (6.54%).
4. Investigation of the carbohydrate content of R. pictus and R. vesicarius aerial parts:
This includes the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the carbohydrate content of the two species under investigation, including both free sugars and polysaccharides. The free sugars of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared and analyzed by PC and HPLC for their identification. Qualitative paper chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of glucose, fructose, sucrose and mannitol in both species. This was confirmed by HPLC analysis, which showed that major sugar in R. pictus and R. vesicarius was sucrose (19.62% and 20.64%), respectively. The polysaccharides of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius were prepared. The yield of the isolated polysaccharide was 2.28% w/w as compared to the dry weight of the dry aerial parts of R. pictus and 6.73% w/w as compared to the dry aerial parts of R. vesicarius. Prepared polysaccharides were acid hydrolyzed and analyzed by PC and GLC for their identification. Qualitative PC and quantitative GLC analysis of polysaccharide hydrolysate of R. pictus revealed the presence of arabinose (5.74%), ribose (0.20%), rhamnose (3.40%), sorbitol (2.10%), galactose (5.56%) and glucose (12.27%). While that of R. vesicarius revealed the presence of arabinose (8.28%), ribose (2.30%), rhamnose (11.31%), galactose (10.90%) and glucose (7.25%).
5. Investigation of the protein and amino acid content of R. pictus and R. vesicarius aerial parts:
The total protein content of the aerial parts of R. pictus and R. vesicarius was found to be 12.94% and 6.06%, respectively. The analysis of the amino acid content of the aerial parts of both species revealed the presence of phenylalanine, threonine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine and lysine as essential amino acids in the two species with different proportions. The major essential amino acids in R. pictus and R. vesicarius were leucine (11.23%) and phenyl alanine (12.35%), respectively. While, the major non essential amino acid in both species was glutamic acid. Tyrosine (4.66%) non essential amino acid was present in R. pictus, only.
Other data
| Title | Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Certain Species from the Genus Rumex (Family Polygonaceae) Growing in Egypt | Other Titles | دراسات فيتوكيميائية و بيولوجية لبعض الأنواع من جنس الرومكس (العائلة الراوندية) التي تنمو في مصر | Authors | Enaam Mohamed Ahmed Hassan AbouZeid | Issue Date | 2015 |
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