Investigation of Some Chemical Constituents of Libyan Arum cyreniacum

Abstract

The whole plant of Arum cyrenaicum was screened for major secondary metabolites. The screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, sterols , terpenes, glycosides , alkaloids and iridoids. Saponins, tannins and anthraquinones were not detected. Three flavonoids : compounds I, II and III were isolated from whole plant of Arum cyrenaicum. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated via a combination of spectral techniques (UV, 1HNMR and MS).

I

II

III The unsaponifiable fraction of flowers was analyzed by GLC which revealed the presence of hydrocarbons, sterols and triterpenes. Major sterols are : stigmasterol(14.57%), cholesterol(7.63%) and campasterol(6.71%). The unsaponifiable fraction of A.cyrenaicum whole plant was analyzed by GLC which showed the presence of some hydrocarbons and sterols. Major sterols are : stigmasterol(13.02%) and β-sitosterol(7.36%). The unsaponifiable fraction of A.cyrenaicum tubers was analyzed by GLC. The analysis showed the presence of some hydrocarbons and sterols. Major sterols are : β-sitosterol(31.73%%) and stigmasterol(17.99%) . The flowers, tubers and whole plant of A.cyrenaicum was analyzed by GLC for composition of fatty acids . For flowers major constituents are: palmitic acid(20.09%) , arachidic acid (15.30%) , stearic acid(13.4%) and erucic acid (13.03%).The major fatty acid constituents of the tubers are :linoleic acid (46.36%) , palmitic acid(22.53%) and arachidoic acid (10.25%). The following fatty acids esters appeared as dominant constituents in whole plant : linolenic acid(31.89%), linoleic acid (21.3%) and palmitic acid (19.55%).