Phytochemical investigations of Alyssum corsicum

The genus Alyssum belonging to family of Cruciferae is represented by 89 species in Turkey, 52 of them being endemic [1]. Although there are no reports of the medicinal uses of Alyssum corsicum Duby, the aerial flowered part, flowered stems and inflorescences of A. maritimum (L.) Lam. are employed as renal lithotripter in infusion and decoction in the Iberian Peninsula. It is also claimed to be a hepatic lithotripter, and to have other benefits associated to the hepatic function (hepatoprotective, antiicteric, the last use in veterinary) [2]. In Iran, seeds of A. minutum Patrin ex DC. are used as a treatment for fevers and other ailments. Glucosinolates, hydrocarbons, fatty acids and flavonol 7-glucuronides were isolated from the genus Alyssum previously[3]. Glucosinolate profiles of the seeds of the various Alyssum species were also screened by Ion-Pair LC-MS method [4]. This is the first phytochemical report on Alyssum corsicum.

In this study three known compounds (Tamarixetin 3,7-diglucoside, Tamarixetin 3-O-β.-D- glucopyranoside-7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside, Tamarixetin 3-O-β-D-glucoside) were isolated from the MeOH extract of of Alyssum corsicum by using preparative chromatographic methods. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was based on analyses of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR).

References: 1. Davis PH (1965) Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands. University Press. Edinburgh.

2. Parada et al. (2009)J Ethnopharmacol 124: 609–618.

3. Afsharypuor S, Lockwood GB (1986)J Nat Prod 49: 944–945.

4. Bennett RN et al. (2004)J Agric Food Chem 52: 428–438.