Four bioactive compounds isolated from the stem of Anethum sowa L. and their bioactivities

Abstract

Anethum sowa Roxb., (a well-known herb in folk medicine, has a greater medicinal significance due to its diversified activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and antispasmodic activity. Very few bioactive compounds have been reported from this species. Our study focused on the isolation, structure elucidation and bioactivity assay of the compounds. In the present work, 6-hydroxy-1, 3-dimethoxy-7-methyl-xanthen-9-one (AS-1) from dichloromethane extract and scopoletin (AS-2), 1, 3, 4-trimethoxy-xanthen-9-one (AS-3), graveolone (AS-4) from ethyl acetate extract of stem of A. sowa were isolated from the stem as well as the plant for the first time. All the characterizations and chemical structures of the compounds were determined by extensive modern spectroscopic techniques such as ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), mass, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrophotometer. Moreover, the cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of AS-2, AS-3 and AS-4 were assessed. AS-2 exhibited significant activity against Salmonella typhi while mild antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Furthermore AS-3 revealed significant antifungal activity against Sacharomyces cerevacae as well as antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi. Besides AS-4 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus megaterium. In addition AS-2, AS-3 and AS-4 presented mild cytotoxic with respect to positive control (Vincristine sulphate) while AS-3 exhibited moderate antioxidant activity as compared to positive control (Ascorbic acid).