Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle fruit - new acyl β-sitosteryl glucoside and in vitro pharmacological evaluation

Abstract

β-Sitosterol-3-O-(6ʹ-O-13ʺ-octadecenoyl)-β-D-glucoside (1), a new acyl β-sitosteryl glucoside, along with three known compounds β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (2), β-sitosterol (3) and methyl gallate (4) have been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extract of Ailanthus altissima fruits. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic data including 2D NMR, ESI-MS, methanolysis and oxidative cleavage of double bond. Antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, phytotoxic and insecticidal activities were evaluated of compound 1, crude extract and its fractions so far for the first time. Pharmacological activities results showed that n-butanol fraction was good active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi bacteria, and moderate active against Microsporum canis fungus. Crude extract, n-butanol and aqueous fractions showed good cytotoxicity. Moreover, compound 1, extract and all fractions showed notable phytotoxicity at higher concentrations, whereas all inactive against assayed insects.

Keywords:

• Simaroubaceae
• Ailanthus altissima
• β-sitosterol-3-O-(6ʹ-O-13ʺ-octadecenoyl)-β-D-glucoside
• antimicrobial
• cytotoxicity
• phytotoxicity

Acknowledgement

The authors express their gratitude to ICCBS, H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan, on providing research facilities for this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.