Isolation, characterization and antioxidant activities of steroidal constituents from the aerial parts of Didymocarpus pedicellata R. Br.

Abstract

Didymocarpus pedicellata R.Br. (Gesneriaceae) is used to treat renal diseases particularly kidney stones, cuts and wounds. As a part of our previous studies in which we have revealed the protective effect of D. pedicellata on ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) induced renal oxidative stress and hyper proliferative response, the present study was designed to isolate, characterize and evaluate antioxidant potential of constituents of D. pedicellata. Phytochemical investigations of the chloroform extract of aerial parts of D. pedicellata resulted in the isolation of three steroidal constituents characterized as 21-hydroxy- β-sitosteryl n-octadec-9ʹ,12ʹ,15’-trienoate (1), 21-hydroxy- β-stigmasteryl n-octadec-9ʹ,12ʹ,15’-trienoate (2) and stigmasterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) for the first time from this plant. The first two compounds 1 and 2 are the new compounds isolated for the first time from a plant source. The structures of these phytoconstituents were established by analysis of the spectral data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activities. Among them, compounds 1 and 3 showed significant antioxidant effects.