Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Protasparagus falcatus (L.) Oberm

Abstract

Protasparagus falcatus (L.) Oberm., syn. Asparagus falcatus L. (Asparagaceae), is a large, thorny, climbing plant indigenous to African countries, Sri Lanka, Mediterranean region and other countries. The plant is considered as an anthelmintic and antisyphilitic, used to treat constipation, burns, wounds and swellings. Phytochemical investigation of a methanolic extract of the aerial parts of P. falcatus resulted in the isolation of two new chemical constituents characterized as 4,4,8,10I²-tetramethyl-9I²-[(13-methylene), 20I±,34-; 24I±,35-diolide-24-furanyl]-tetradecanyl-trans-decalin (furanosesquaterpene diolide, 3) and dilup-20 (29)-enyl labd-7′′-en-19′′,20′′-dioate (dilupenyl labdandioate, 4) along with the known compounds 1-hexacosanol (1) and lupenyl palmitate (2). The structures of all the isolated phytoconstituents have been established on the basis of spectral data analysis and chemical reactions.