Bioactive flavonoids from Satureja atropatana Bonge

Abstract

From the ethyl acetate and methanol extract of the aerial parts of Satureja atropatana Bonge, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family, four flavonoids were isolated. Their structures were determined to be 5,6,3′-trihydroxy-7,8,4′-trimethoxyflavone (1), 5,6-dihydroxy-7,8,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone or 5-desmethoxynobiletin (2), 5,6,4′-trihydroxy-7,8,3′-trimethoxyflavone or thymonin (3) and luteolin (4) using ¹H and ¹³C-NMR and MS spectra. Brine shrimp cytotoxicity effects of the crude extracts and isolated compounds were examined. Berberine hydrochloride (LC₅₀ = 26 µg mL⁻¹) was used as a positive control. Among them, compounds 2 (199 µg mL⁻¹) and 3 (157 µg mL⁻¹) were effective against Artemia salina larva.

Keywords:

• Lamiaceae
• Satureja atropatana
• thymonin
• cytotoxicity
• Artemia salina

Acknowledgement

This research has been supported by a Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services grant (No. 4761).