lipid and flavonoidal constituents of lepidium sativum [L.] growing in Egypt and their biological activity

ABSTRACT

The flavonoidal constituents isolated from the chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of aqueous alcoholic extract of Lepidium sativum [L.] were identified as querectin, querectin -7- O-glucoside, isorhamnetin -3-O- rhamnoside, 3'- methoxy luteolin7-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin -3-O- glucoside as well as a phenolic acid, ferulic acid using PC, TLC, UV, [1-] H- NMR and MS analysis. The study of the lipid fractions of herb and seeds, resulted in the identification of the unsaponifiable materials as well as the fatty acid mixture s. GLC analysis of the unsaponifiable materials or the herb revealed the presence of a hydrocarbon mixture [n - C[4] to n - C[18]] in addition to beta-sitosterol and beta-amyrin. GLC analysis of fatty acid methyl esters of the herb revealed the presence of 7 fatty acids in which linoleic acid [60.0 %] was the main acid. Also the GLC analysis or the unsaponifiable fraction of the seeds revealed the presence of hydrocarbon mixture [n-C[-14] to n-C[-18]], in addition to beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and beta-amyrin. GLC analysis of the fatty acid fraction revealed the presence of 6 fatty acids in which linolenic acid [85.0 %] was the main acid. Acute toxicity studies of pet. ether and alcoholic extract of aerial parts of the plant, showed that the alcoholic extract is more safe than that of pet.ether extract and both extracts have a hepatoprotective activity on liver at the same concentration [50 microg/ml] The different extracts of seeds and herbs of Lepidium sativum showed a moderate effect against the White fly [Bemisia tabaci]. The total lipid of the seeds and in particular unsape fraction showed significant activity against the pest, which gave 77 % mortality on the adult stage