Identification of a vasodilator compound isolated from the fruit of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz (Cucurbitaceae)

Abstract

The present paper aimed to identify a vasodilatory isolate from Sechium edule fruit. The hydroalcoholic extract of Sechium edule fruit has been proven to have vasodilatory activity. After a bio guided fractionation, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest activity. Preparative chromatography was used to isolate a bioactive compound from this fraction. The structure was determined using spectroscopy (UV, NMR 1 and 2D, MS). Its vasodilation activity was assessed on rat isolated aorta precontracted with norepinephrine. Analytical chromatography shows 3 spots at Rf 0.27, 0.36 and 0.9. Our results show that the spot with Rf 0.36 possesses a vasodilator activity. It relaxes isolated aorta pre contracted with norepinephrine with EC50 equal to 37.16 µg/ml. Chemical shifts (δH) and spin-spin coupling constants (JHH) data were compared with literature to confirm the isolate as 24-hydroxymethyl-23,26,27-trihydroxy-cucurbit-5-ene-3-yl-acetate, a cucurbitane derivate.