Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Eryngium L. (Apiaceae)

Abstract

Eryngium L. is the largest and arguably the most taxonomically complex genus of the family Apiaceae. The genus has approximately 250 species throughout the world, with the center of diversity in South America. Some Eryngium species are cultivated as ornamental, vegetable, or medicinal crops for folk uses. With increasing chemical and biological investigations, Eryngium has shown its potential as pharmaceutical crops. This review focuses on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of 127 compounds isolated and identified from 23 species of Eryngium, particularly nonessential oil compounds such as terpenoids, triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, polyacetylenes, and steroids. Eryngium extracts or isolates have shown in vitro bioactivitities such as cytotoxicity against various human tumor cell lines, anti-inflammatory, anti-snake and scorpion venoms, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimalarial, antioxidant, and antihyperglycemic effects. In vivo studies through various animal models have also shown promising results. However, chemical constituents and their bioactivities of most species of this highly diversified genus have not been investigated. The molecular mechanism of bioactivities (particularly cytotoxicity and anti-snake and scorpion venoms) of Eryngium isolates remains elusive. Also, anti-tumor activity of polyhydroxylated triterpenoid saponins isolated from Eryngium needed to be furthur explored.

<i>In vivo</i> Antimalarial Activity of Methanol and Water Extracts of <i>Eryngium thorifolium</i> Boiss (Apiaceae Family) against <i>P. berghei</i> in Infected Mice

“…The phytochemical searches on Eryngium species revealed that this genus contained phenolic compounds, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenoids as well as saponins, flavonoids, coumarin, steroids and acetylenes. Cytotoxic, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, anti-snake and scorpion venoms, antibacterial and antifungal activities were previously reported for this genus [6]. In a review of the plants of the American continent with antimalarial activity, E. foetidum water extract, E. nudicaule ethanol extract and E. yuccaefolium water extract were reported to possess antiplasmodial activities.…”

Micropropagation of Eryngium campestre L. via Shoot Culture Provides Valuable Uniform Plant Material with Enhanced Content of Phenolic Acids and Antimicrobial Activity

“…The medicinal parts are dried roots, leaves and flowers (PDR 2000). In folk medicine infusions, extracts, decoctions, liquids and tinctures from the roots are used as a diuretic, antitussive, stimulant, appetizer and aphrodisiac (PDR, 2000;Thiem and Wiatrowska, 2007;Wang et al, 2012). Leaf and root extracts present strong antifungal and moderate antibacterial activity (Thiem et al, 2010).…”

“…Saponins identified in E. campestre are interesting because of the acylation by a β,β-dimethylacrylic acid or angeloyl at the C-22 position, which is rare among triterpenoid saponins (Kartal et al, 2005;Kartal et al, 2006;Wang et al, 2012). A phytochemical analysis of the above-ground parts resulted in isolation and structural determination of flavonoids: quercetin, isoquercitrin, rutin, luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, astragalin, kaempferol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-(2'-p-E-hydroxycinnamoyl)-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-(2'-p-Z-hydroxycinnamoyl)-glucopyranoside (Kartnig and Wolf, 1993;Hohmann et al, 1997;Wang et al, 2012). Simple coumarins: aegelinol benzoate, agasyllin, aegelinol and grandivittin occurred in the roots (Erdelmeier and Sticher, 1985;Wang et al, 2012).…”

“…A phytochemical analysis of the above-ground parts resulted in isolation and structural determination of flavonoids: quercetin, isoquercitrin, rutin, luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, astragalin, kaempferol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-(2'-p-E-hydroxycinnamoyl)-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-(2'-p-Z-hydroxycinnamoyl)-glucopyranoside (Kartnig and Wolf, 1993;Hohmann et al, 1997;Wang et al, 2012). Simple coumarins: aegelinol benzoate, agasyllin, aegelinol and grandivittin occurred in the roots (Erdelmeier and Sticher, 1985;Wang et al, 2012). Essential oil characterized by the presence of monosesqiterpene hydrocarbons, myrcene, germacren and α-pinene was found in the aerial parts of the species (Erdelmeier and Sticher, 1986;Wang et al, 2012).…”

Cytotoxic effects ofEryngium kotschyiandEryngium maritimumon Hep2, HepG2, Vero and U138 MG cell lines

“…Eryngium extracts or isolates have shown in vitro bioactivities such as cytotoxicity aganist various human tumor cell lines, anti-inflammatory, anti-snake, and scorpion venoms, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects. These pharmacological effects of the plant is mainly related to the essential oil compounds such as terpenoids, triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, polyacetylenes and steroids (Celik et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2012). The aerial and root parts of Eryngium maritimum L. and Eryngium kotschyi Boiss.…”