Ecdysteroids from the medicinal fern Microsorum scolopendria (Burm. f.)

Abstract

Fronds of the fern Microsorum scolopendria are widely used in traditional medicine in the Society Islands. They were investigated for the presence of ecdysteroids, which might be responsible for at least some of their medicinal properties. M. scolopendria represents an excellent source of ecdysone (0.16% of dry weight) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (0.20%), and also contains significant amounts (0.01-0.02%) of makisterones A and C, inokosterone and amarasterone A, together with lower amounts of poststerone and of a compound tentatively identified as 24,28-diepi-cyasterone. During this study, three new minor phytoecdysteroids, namely 20-deoxymakisterone A, a 25(?)-epimer of amarasterone A and 25-deoxyecdysone 22-glucoside were also isolated by a combination of normal- and reversed-phase HPLC and subsequently identified by NMR.

Characterization of ecdysteroids in Drosophila melanogaster by enzyme immunoassay and nano-liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

“…Some reference ecdysteroids were isolated in the laboratory from various plants: MaA, from Ajuga iva [16]; 20dMaA from the fern Microsorum scolopendria [17]. 24epiMaA was prepared by chemical reduction of 24,28-dehydromakisterone A [7].…”

Phytoecdysteroids in the Genus Microsorum (Polypodiaceae) of French Polynesia

“…Some of these species show a very similar morphology, especially M. scolopendria and M. rubidium, which may induce confusion when collecting them for medicinal preparation purposes. Biologically active compounds belonging to the ecdysteroid family have been found in the genus Polypodium [6][7][8], and a phytochemical study of M. scolopendria revealed the presence of high amounts of ecdysteroids [9]. Ecdysteroids are known to have many pharmacological effects in mammals/humans, e.g.…”

Phytoecdysteroids from the rhizomes of Brainea insignis

“…Comparison of the 13 C NMR (Table 2) and DEPT spectra with those of 6 showed that the oxyquaternary carbon for C-20 in 6 was replaced by a methine (d C 41.8) in 4. These findings indicated that the aglycone of 4 was 25-deoxyecdysone (Snogan et al, 2007). The sugar part was also indicated to be a b-D-glucopyranosyl group by the 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopic data and acid hydrolysis, and it was bound to C-3 via a glycosidic linkage as deduced from correlations in the HMBC and NOESY spectra.…”