Lipid composition and biological activity of extracts from Zygophyllum oxianum

Abstract

Zygophyllum species (Zygophyllaceae) are widely distributed in Uzbekistan and used in folk medicine as antiinfectious, antirheumatic and antidiabetic means. Continuing our research on the chemical constituents of this genus [1,2], we have studied the lipid composition of the aerial parts of Zygophyllum oxianum Boriss. The yields of the total lipids were: leaves –0.75%, stems –0.33% and fruits –0.49% from fresh weight of organ. Phospholipids (PL) are presented by 9 classes, from them phosphatidylcholine is dominating (leaves –55.8%, stems –56.4%, fruits –63.7% from sum of PL). The study of antimicrobial activity against several bacterial strains and fungi showed that the n-butanol extract from all aerial parts exhibits significant activity against Candida sp. but only weak antibacterial activity. In cytotoxicity assays against 5637 human urinary bladder cells the n-butanol extract showed only weak activity. Otherwise the chloroform-methanol (2:1) extract of steams and leaves has a remarkable cytotoxicity against 5637 cells with an IC50 value of 6.2µg/ml, but only weak antibacterial and antifungal activity. The chloroform-methanol extract (2:1) of the fruits was less toxic (IC50 value: 37.6µg/ml).