Fatty Acid Pattern and Alkaloids of Echium Rauwolfii

Abstract

The GC/MS analysis of hexane extract revealed the presence of palmitic acid as saturated fatty acid (1.05%), versus oleic acid (2.18%), linoleic acid (1.13%), cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid (2.12%) as unsaturated fatty acids. On the other hand, CH2Cl2 extract contained palmitic acid methyl ester (3.55%), and methyl isostearate (1.17%) as saturated fatty acids, versus linoleic acid methyl ester (3.57%) and linolenic acid methyl ester (10.01%) as unsaturated fatty acids. The GC/MS analysis of the alkaloid-rich fraction indicated the presence of the pyrazolidine alkaloids petranine (2.97%), 7-angeloyl-9-(2-methylbutyryl) retronecine (4.22%), 7angeloylretronecine (0.59%) and 9-angeloylretronecine (0.47%). The butanol extract showed the heights DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 14.3 μg),. while ethyl acetate extract was very weak in activity (IC50 = 432.3 μg) and no activity with hexane and methylene chloride extract. The antimicrobial potentials of E. rauwolfii extracts were examined. The inhibition of the fungi species by ethyl acetate extract exert was comparable to Amphotericin B. The inhibition zone of the butanol extract against Streptococcus pneumonia was comparable to Ampicillin, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was comparable to Gentamicin and Escherichia coli was comparable to Gentamicin. The cytotoxicity against HePG-2 of ethyl acetate extract and butanol extract were “very strong”, and that of hexane extract and methylene chloride extract were “moderate”, against MCF-7 of ethyl acetate extract and butanol extract were “strong”, that of methylene chloride extract was “moderate”, and that of hexane extract was “weak” and against HCT-116 of butanol extract was “very strong”, of ethyl acetate extract was“strong”, of methylene chloride extract and hexane extract were “moderate”.