On the antibacterial activity of roots of Capparis spinosa L

A decoction of Capparis spinosa L. roots, widely used in the traditional folk medicine of southern Italy, was prepared and submitted to antibacterial activity tests, which showed an interesting bacteriostatic activity on the growth of Deinococcus radiophilus. Heterocyclic compounds were also recovered from the chloroformic extract of the roots.     

Lipids ofCappafis spinosa

Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, fax (3712) 89 14 75. Translated from Kbimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 498–499, May–June, 1995. Original article submitted November 7, 1994.     

The chemical constituents of Capparis spinosa of Jordanian origin

Investigation of Capparis spinosa of Jordanian origin lead to isolation of two new compounds beta-sitosterylglucoside-6'-octadecanoate (1) and 3-methyl-2-butenyl-beta-glucoside (2). Linked Scan MS measurements were used to propose a mass fragmentation pattern for the alkaloid Cadabicine isolated here for the second time from nature.     

Quaternary ammonium compounds in roots and leaves of Capparis spinosa L. from Saudi Arabia and Italy: investigation by HPLC-MS and 1H NMR

Capparis spinosa L. is a perennial plant typical of the Mediterranean flora and a multipurpose plant used for curing various human ailments. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), as constituents of Capparaceae, play important roles in protecting against abiotic stress. Aim of this work was to determine QACs in root and leaves of caper from two proveniences. The presence of stachydrine, choline, glycine betaine and homo-stachydrine has been confirmed by high resolution MS, while ¹H NMR was applied to quantify the main QACs in the aqueous extracts. Stachydrine was quantified at 20.2 mg/g and 32.3 mg/g on dry leaves from South of Italy and Saudi Arabia, respectively, while a minor content was in dry roots (from 10.4 to 12.5 mg/g). Choline was considerably lower both in leaves and roots (from 0.3 to 1.2 mg/g). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the determination of QACs both in root and leaves of C. spinosa.     

Lipids ofGlycyrrhiza glabra roots

A petroleum ether extract ofGlycyrrhiza glabra L. roots was investigated. The extract contains 70% neutral lipids and 30% polar lipids. Hydrocarbons, sterols esters, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, free sterols, and diacylglycerols were identified. The fatty acid contents of all of the acyl-containing lipids were determined. Fourteen fatty acids were identified; the 18 2 fatty acid prevails among the unsaturated acids, and the 16 0 acid prevails among the saturated acids.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 367–370, February, 1995.     

Lipids of the tuberous roots ofMandragora turcomanica

The lipids of the tuberous roots ofMandragora turcomanica Mizger (fam. Solanaceae) have been characterized for the first time. By using CC, TLC, Ag⁺-TLC, UV and IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry, 20 classes of lipids and lipophilic substances have been characterized. The main components of the acyl-containing lipids that were isolated were found to be triacylglycerols and glycolipids, and among the lipophilic compounds they were alkanols and sterols; in the mixture of fatty acids of the acyl-containing lipids the 18:2, 18:1, and 16:0 acids predominated.     

Two new alkaloids from Capparis himalayensis

Two new alkaloids, Capparin A (1) and B (2), along with seven known compounds 6-methoxyindoline-2,3-dione (3), wogonin (4), oroxylin A (5), kaempferol (6), apigenin (7), quercetin (8) and luteolin (9), were isolated from the whole plant of Capparis himalayensis. Their structures have been established on the basis of spectral methods and the structure of 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Lipids of the tuberous roots ofMandragora turcomanica

The lipids of the tuberous roots ofMandragora turcomanica Mizger (fam. Solanaceae) have been characterized for the first time. By using CC, TLC, Ag⁺-TLC, UV and IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry, 20 classes of lipids and lipophilic substances have been characterized. The main components of the acyl-containing lipids that were isolated were found to be triacylglycerols and glycolipids, and among the lipophilic compounds they were alkanols and sterols; in the mixture of fatty acids of the acyl-containing lipids the 18:2, 18:1, and 16:0 acids predominated.Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 615–623, September–October, 1994.     

Lipids of the roots ofAconitum septentrionale and of their processing wastes

The compositions of the lipids and fatty acids of the roots ofAconitum septentrionale and of their processing wastes have been investigated. A high level of the 18:2 and 18:3 acids has been found in the root lipids. A technological stage that concentrates in the wastes lipids that can be used as a complex of biologically active substances has been determined.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, fax (3712) 89 14 75. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 701–704, September-October, 1996. Original article submitted March 11, 1996.     

Lipids from Mediasia macrophylla Leaves

Lipids from Mediasia macrophylla leaves were studied. Classes of neutral, glyco-, and phospholipids and their fatty-acid composition were determined. The content of chlorophyll and carotinoid pigments in the leaves and lipid extract was found. Essential oil was isolated by steam distillation and contained free and bound fatty acids.