Herbal remedies of the maritime Indians: Sterols and triterpenes ofTanacetum vulgare L. (Tansy)

Abstract

Plant sterols and triterpenes exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. As part of our ongoing studies of the medicinal aspects of Maritime flora, particularly the herbal remedies of the Micmac and Malecite Indians, we determined the nature of the sterols and triterpenes of Tanacetum vulgare L. (Compositae)-a widely used herbal remedy usually referred to as tansy. By using thin layer and gas chromatographics, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we were able to identify beta-sitosterol as the major sterol and alpha-amyrin as the major triterpene of tansy. We also identified the sterols stigmasterol, campesterol and cholesterol, and the triterpenes beta-amyrin and taraxasterol. A fourth triterpene was tentatively identified as pseudo-taraxasterol. The successful therapeutic application of this herb may be due partly to the presence of one or more of these compounds. The sterols and triterpenes of tansy have not been previously reported; neither, to our knowledge, have the NMR spectra of the amyrins and the NMR and mass spectra of taraxasterol.

Diuretic activity of the aqueous extracts of Carum carvi and Tanacetum vulgare in normal rats

“…A number of compounds have been identified in caraway, including carvone and other monoterpenoids and their glucosides (Zheng et al, 1992), menthanetriols and glucosides (Matsumura et al, 2001), and limonene (Zheng et al, 1992), and in tansy, such as flavonoids (Williams et al, 1999), mono-, tri-, and sesqui-terpine lactones, and isoprenoids (Chandler et al, 1982;Umlauf et al, 2004), saponins, polyphenols, and plant sterols (Chandler et al, 1982), parthenolide (Tournier et al, 1999), polysaccharides (Polle et al, 2002), thujones (Dragland et al, 2005), and chrysanthenyl analogs (Umlauf et al, 2004). At present, it is not known which compounds are responsible for the diuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic activities of caraway and tansy.…”

Traditional use of medicinal plants in the boreal forest of Canada: review and perspectives

“…At the species level, Chandler et al [122,123] highlighted the correspondence between traditional use and phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Achillea millefolium and Tanacetum vulgare , two of the most widely used medicinal plant species in boreal Canada (Additional file 1). Applequist and Moerman [124] also reviewed ethnobotany and bioactivity of Achillea millefolium .…”

Acute and chronic toxicity of a lyophilised aqueous extract of Tanacetum vulgare leaves in rodents

“…A large number of constituents have been identified in tansy, including thujone, camphor, alpha-pinene, borneol, tanacetin, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, hydroxycoumarins, polyynes, sterols, tannic acid and resins (Chandler et al, 1982;PDR-HM, 2004). The essential oil in the leaves, high in thujone, is toxic and causes convulsions and about 15-30 g can kill an adult human (Lust, 1983;Foster and Duke, 1990;PDR-HM, 2004).…”