Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_136
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949936

Phytochemical Study of Artemisia persica Boiss. and Evaluation of its Antiplasmodial Activity

O Sadeghpour 1, G Asghari 2, MRS Ardekani 3, JW Jaroszewski 4
  • 1Herbal Medicine Dept.Research institute of Medical History,Islamic and Complementary Medicine Pirnia, Lalezar now Jomhoori Tehran IRAN
  • 2Pharmacognosy Dept.Faculty of Pharmacy Isfahan Univrsity of Medical Sciences Hezarjerib St. Isfahan IRAN
  • 3Pharmacognosy Dept.Faculty of Pharmacy Tehran Univrsity of Medical Sciences Enghelab St. Tehran IRAN.
  • 4Medicinal Chemistry Dept.Pharmaceutical University of Denmark Universitetsparken 2 DK-2100 Copenhagen Denmark

Introduction: The genus Artemisia is one of the largest and most widely distributed of the nearly 100 genera in the tribe Anthemideae of the Asteraceae. Considering to different compounds exist in Artemisia spp. They have a wide variety of biological activity.

The outstanding antimalarial compound, artemisinin, isolated from Artemisia annua L.. The aim of this study was phytochemical investigation of “Artemisia persica“ in order to identify bioactive compounds, which may have antiplasmodial effect [1, 2].

Methods: The Flowering aerial parts of plant were collected in November 2002 from Isfahan province (IRAN), and undergoes to chemical isolation of compounds by VLC, CC and HPLC, mainly using bioactivity-guided fractionation approach, and the structures of isolated compounds were determined using modern homo-and heteronuclear two-dimentional NMR experiments. The essential oil of A. persica was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS.

Results: Methanolic extract of A. persica showed a moderate effect against the Plasmodium parasite compared Chloroquine. The yield of essential oil was 0.40% Davanone, as the major constituent. Phytochemical investigation of the extract led to isolation of Friedelin, Ascaridol, Scopoletin, Scopolin and two other unknown compounds.

Discussion: Davanone was the major constituent of A. persica while the other studies indicated that the major constituent of volatile oil is 1,8-Cineol. The results showed that although isolated compounds like Friedelin, Ascaridol, Scopoletin and etc. might have different biological effect but not high antiplasmodial. However comparing with artemisinin the compounds Ascaridol and Friedelin (specially its derivative, ß-Amyrin) showed week antiplasmodial effect. In conclusion there is improbable to find major compounds with high antimalarial effect in Artemisia persica or other species of Artemisia.

Acknowledgement: I would like to give my best gratefulness to Majid Sairafianpour for all his efforts and kindnesses in Copenhagen.

References 1.Marco, J.A., Barbera, O., (1990), Natural Products from Genus Artemisia L., in Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, Atta-ur-Rahman ed., London, Elsevier, Vol.7, 201–264.

2. Wright, C.W. (2002), Artemisia, New York: Taylor & Francis Inc..