Cleome droserifolia (FORSSK) DEL. (Cleomaceae), known locally in Saudi Arabia as Al-Samwa, is distributed on rocky slopes and ledges in northwestern Saudi Arabia.1) C. droserifolia leaves extract have anti-schistosomiasis activity.2) The plant extract also has a hypoglycemic effect through potentiation of peripheral, hepatic insulin sensitivity and diminishing intestinal glucose absorption.3,4) Treatment of hepatocytes culture with the plant extract resulted in reduction in cell viability; however, the level of albumin was not affected.5) Previous phytochemical study of C. droserifolia indicated the presence of sesquiterpenes, steroids and flavonoids. [6][7][8] Screening of plants used in Saudi folk medicine as remedy for liver problems is one of our research interest. [9][10][11] In the present study biologically directed phytochemical study of the ethanol extract of C. droserifolia was conducted.
Results and DiscussionIn our search for hepatoprotactive compounds from plants used in Saudi folk medicine as remedy for liver problems, the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of C. droserifolia showed 35.87, 26.8, 21.9 and 34.8% reduction at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight in the level of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin, respectively. The ethanol extract was subjected to liquid-liquid partitioning; each fraction was tested for hepatoprotective activity. Biologically directed chromatographic purification of the active fractions was conducted and resulted in the isolation of 1-9. Compounds 2-8 were tested biologically, while the amount of 1 and 9 were not enough for biological study.Compounds 1 and 2 were identified as the guaiane sesquiterpenes buchariol previously isolated from an Egyptian collection of C. droserifolia 7) and 6-hydroxynardol (teucladiol) isolated from Teucrium leucocladum.12) Compounds 4-6 were identified as 5,3Ј-dihydroxy-3,6,7,4Ј,5Ј-pentamethoxyflavone, 5Ј-hydroxy-3,6,7,3Ј,4Ј,5Ј-hexamethoxyflavone; both previously reported from C. droserifolia 13) ; and luteolin, 14) respectively. Sitosterol-3-O-[b-D-glucopyranoside] (daucosterol) (3) was identified by comparison with literature data.15) Compound 7 was identified as the dolabellane diter-,18-triol previously isolated from Chrozophora oblique, 16) while 9 proved to be (6S,9R)-roseoside, 17) a norterpenoid with the megastigmane skeleton isolated for the first time from the Cleomaceae.The UV data of 8 in MeOH (l max : 354, 268, 255 nm) was diagnostic for a flavonol skeleton. 19) In addition, the 1 H-NMR spectrum showed a methoxyl signal at d H 3.85 and two sugars as indicated from the two anomeric protons at d H 5.56 and 5.58 ppm. The UV bathochromic shifts with NaOMe (l max : 398 nm), AlCl 3 /HCl (l max : 401, 359, 299 and 268 nm) indicated 3,5,4Ј free hydroxyl groups. The failure of 8 to produce any shift in band II with NaOAc indicated a substituted C-7.18) The position of the methoxyl group at C-3Ј was indicated from the heteronuclear multiple...