STUDY OF THE SAPONIN CONTENT OF ATRIPLEX STYLOSA VIV. AND ITS MOLLUSCICIDAL EFFECT

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

From the aerial parts of Atriplex stylosa Viv, four triterpenoidal saponins have been isolated. Their structures were established as 3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1®3)-b-D-glucuronopyranosyl hederagenin; 3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1®3)-b-D-glucuronopyranosyl hederagenin; 3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1®3)-b-D-glucuronopyranosyl hederagenin; 28-O-b-D-glucopyranoside and 3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1®)-[b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1®2)]-b-D-glucuronopyranosly oleanolec acid by spectroscopic methods (IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and FAB-MS) as well as on basis of acidic and alkaline hydrolysis. The three monodesmosidic saponins exhibited various molluscicidal activities against the two aquatic snails; Biomphalaria alexandrina and Lymnaea cailliaudi, the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola gigantica respectively in Egypt whereas the bidesmosidic saponin was inactive against the two snail species.