Yucca gloriosa:  A Source of Phenolic Derivatives with Strong Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

On the basis of the biological activities exhibited by the phenolic constituents of Yucca schidigera, the antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Yucca gloriosa roots was evaluated in the TEAC assay. The strong activity exerted by this extract prompted investigation of its phenolic constituents, yielding three new phenolic derivatives, gloriosaols C, D, and E, along with gloriosaols A and B previously isolated from Y. gloriosa roots and yuccaols C-E isolated from Y. schidigera. ESIMS and NMR data of gloriosaols C-E closely resembled those reported for gloriosaols A and B, two diasteroisomers characterized by unusual spirostructures. Careful inspection of ROESY spectra revealed that gloriosaols C-E are diastereoisomers of gloriosaols A and B. A possible assignment of the relative configuration of gloriosaols C-E, derived according to an integrated NMR-quantum mechanical (QM) approach, which was already applied to the determination of the stereostructures of gloriosaols A and B, is also proposed. Gloriosaols A-E exhibited potent antioxidant activity measured by the TEAC assay, showing the potential use of Y. gloriosa as a source of antioxidant principles.

DFT/NMR integrated approach: a valid support to the total synthesis of chiral molecules

“…It is noteworthy that a high accuracy in reproducing the experimental chemical shifts is provided by this level of theory, which has proved successful in the configurational analysis of several natural compounds. [27,28,29,30] Because such accuracy is seldom observed on sp 2 carbon atoms, they have not been reported and considered in the configurational assignment in the present paper and in our preceding contributions reported in the literature. [29] In particular, for what concerns 13 C calculated results, we have considered the δ parameter (differences in experimental vs calculated 13 C NMR chemical shifts) and the MAE parameter (MAE = [|δ exp − δ calc |]/n, summation through n of the absolute values of the differences in the corresponding experimental and calculated 13 C chemical shifts); such parameters have been successfully used in the characterization of unknown stereostructures by us and by other research groups.…”

Effects of Yucca Extract on Feed Efficiency, Immune and Antioxidative Functions in Broilers

“…This confirms that radical formation and removal are in dynamic equilibrium. Methanol extract of Yucca gloriosa roots or Yucca aloifolia leaves exhibited strong radical scavenging activity (Bassarello et al 2007;Sobia et al 2013). Kucukkurt et al (2008) reported MDA levels in blood of the rats significantly decreased in groups fed diet added 100 or 200 ppm yucca powder compared to control.…”

Yucca: A medicinally significant genus with manifold therapeutic attributes

“…TEAC assay and ESIMS, NMR data confirmed that gloriosaols A-E extracted from Y. gloriosa has antioxidant activity. 11,12 Y. schidigera and Y. gloriosa roots and barks contained these bioactive phenolics. 13 The protective effects of Y. schidigera was assessed against oxidative damage induced by acute nitrite intoxication in murine models.…”