Identification of methyl salicylate as the principal volatile component in the methanol extract of root bark of Securidaca longepedunculata Fers

Abstract

Securidaca longepedunculata Fers (Polygalaceae) is commonly used as a medicine in many parts of Africa and shows promise for protecting stored grain against insect pests. Analysis of a methanol extract of the root bark by gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) showed a major component accounting for over 90% of the volatile material. This was identified as methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (methyl salicylate) by comparison of the GC retention times and mass spectrum with those of synthetic standards. This conflicts with an earlier report that the major component is methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate. Two minor components had mass spectra characteristic of 2-hydroxybenzoate esters and were identified as methyl 2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoate and its benzyl analogue, again conflicting with an earlier report.

Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae): A review of its ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and toxicology

“…The volatile oil of the roots contains large amounts of methyl salicylate (Van Wyk et al, 2005). The report agrees with those of Jayasakara et al (2002) and Lognay et al (2000), which revealed that the major component (over 90%) of the volatile material from the root bark is methyl-2-hydroxybenzoate (methyl salicylate). Furthermore, securinine, presenegenin, 2-hydroxybenzoate esters such as methyl 2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoate and its benzyl analogue were also reported.…”

“…Fatty acids and Triacylglycerol 13-hydroxyoctadeca-cis-9-trans-11-dienoic acid, 11-hydroxyhexadeca-cis-7-trans-9-dienoic acid and 9-hydroxytetradeca-cis-5-trans-7-dienoic acid Jayasakara et al (2002, Lognay et al (2000 The aqueous root and ethanol extracts yielded alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, volatile oils, terpenoids and some steroids (Junaid et al, 2008;Haruna et al, 2013a;Auwal et al, 2012;Gbadamosi, 2012) while chloroform and ethanol extracts indicated flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, tannins and alkaloids (Adebayo and Osman, 2012). The ethyl acetate fraction of the root contained compounds such as 1,5-dihydroxy-3,4,6,7,8-pentamethoxyxanthone, 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone, 5-Ο-prenyl-1-hydroxy-2,3,6,7,8-pentamethoxyxathanthone, 2-hydroxy-1, 7-dimethoxyxanthone, β-sitosterol, 1,7-dihyroxy-4-methoxyxanthone, quercetin-3-O-β-galacto-pyranoside and 3-hydroxy-6-methoxysalicylic acid (Meli et al, 2007).…”

Transformation of Sugar Maple Bark through Catalytic Organosolv Pulping

“…As shown in Figure 3, methanol-soluble fraction contains a few sugars with glucose as major monosaccharide, while in methanol-insoluble fraction there are glucose and xylose which are detected in higher concentrations. On the other hand, the higher level of total phenol determined by spectrophotometry in methanol-soluble fraction (Table 2) was also confirmed by GC-MS analysis of silylated methanol-soluble fraction (See Figure S2 Supplementary Materials for GC-MS analysis), thus confirming the well-known affinity of polyphenols for methanol as solvent [23]. Thus, methanol-soluble fraction could be used for its antioxidant activity, which is usually correlated with total phenols content [24].…”

Anti-inflammatory activity of extracts of root bark of <i>Securidaca longipedunculata</i> fres (polygalaceae)

“…Phytochemical studies of the root and root bark has led to the isolation of a number of compounds. Some of these include beta-D-(3,4-disinapoyl)fructofuranosyl-alpha-D-(6-sinapoyl)glucopyranoside and beta-D-(3-sinapoyl)fructofuranosyl-alpha-D-(6-sinapoyl)glucopyranoside which are sucrose derivatives (De Tommasi et al, 1993), the alkaloids elymoclavine, and dehydroelymoclavine, an ergoline compound and cinnamonic acid (Wrobel et al, 1996), methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (methylsalicylate), methyl 2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoate esters and its benzyl analogue (Jayasekara et al, 2002), flavonoids (Ajali and Chukwurah, 2004), and the xanthones: 1, 7-Dimethoxy-2-hydroxy-xanthone and 1, 4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-xanthone (Rakuambo et al, 2004). Also, a number of fatty acids and triglycerols such as coriolic (13-hydroxyoctadeca-cis-9, trans-11-dienoic) acid, 11-hydroxyhexadeca-cis-7, trans-9-dienoic acid and 9-hydroxytetradecacis-5, trans-7-dienoic acid have been isolated from the seed oil of S. longipedunculata (Smith et al, 1979).…”