New discoveries about the chemical composition and biological activity of some species of the genus Pandanus
Pandanus is the largest genus in the wild pineapple family (Pandanaceae), including more than 750 species, of which, about 17 species have been discovered in Vietnam, such as: Pandanus tectorius, Pandanus amaryllifolius, Pandanus odoratissimus, Pandanus tonkinensis, Pandanus nanofrutex, and Pandanus humillis. The common feature of species of the genus of wild pineapple is that it grows in a bush, has many branches, hard and often thorny leaves. In traditional Vietnamese medicine, Pandanus (P. tectorius) is used as a medicine to treat a number of urinary tract diseases. Meanwhile, P. odoratissimus is often used to reduce fever, treat chickenpox and, syphilis, while P. amaryllifolius is used as a flavoring in food processing.
Figure 1. Research samples
After studying the chemical composition of two plants in the genus Pandanus, the team isolated and determined the structure of a total of nineteen compounds from Pandanus tectorius and Pandanus amaryllifolius. From P. tectorius, the authors isolated the novel compound (3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-anofinate methyl, along with several lignan compounds such as pinoresinol, pinoresinol monomethyl ether, arctigenin, matairesinol, isolariciresinol, pinoresinol 4-O-β-D-glucoside and a megastigmane compound, vomifoliol. Pinoresinol monomethyl ether, isolariciresinol, pinoresinol 4-O-β-D-glucoside compounds were also detected in the leaf part of P. amaryllifolius. This is the first time these compounds have been discovered from the genus Pandanus. Nine alkaloid compounds have also been isolated from the leaves of P. amaryllifolius. The structure of compounds is determined using modern spectroscopic methods (NMR, MS, ECD).
After studying the chemical composition of two plants in the genus Pandanus, the team isolated and determined the structure of a total of nineteen compounds from Pandanus tectorius and Pandanus amaryllifolius. From P. tectorius, the authors isolated the novel compound (3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-anofinate methyl, along with several lignan compounds such as pinoresinol, pinoresinol monomethyl ether, arctigenin, matairesinol, isolariciresinol, pinoresinol 4-O-β-D-glucoside and a megastigmane compound, vomifoliol. Pinoresinol monomethyl ether, isolariciresinol, pinoresinol 4-O-β-D-glucoside compounds were also detected in the leaf part of P. amaryllifolius. This is the first time these compounds have been discovered from the genus Pandanus. Nine alkaloid compounds have also been isolated from the leaves of P. amaryllifolius. The structure of compounds is determined using modern spectroscopic methods (NMR, MS, ECD).The formation of calcium oxalate crystals is one of the first and direct processes that leads to kidney stones. Calcium oxalate inhibitors will react competitively with Ca2+ or C2O42- ions or reverse the formation of calcium oxalate crystals, thereby preventing the development of kidney stones. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity and inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal formation of the compounds showed that most lignans and megastigmane compounds exhibited DPPH free radical scanning and significant inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal formation, while alkaloid compounds exhibited these activities at weak levels.
Meanwhile, anti-inflammatory results showed that most compounds exhibited weak activity in inhibiting the production of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 involved in inflammation.
Figure 2. Several compounds isolated from P. tectorius and P. amaryllifolius species
The isolation of a benzopyran derivative from the aboveground part of a plant species of the wild pineapple genus is a very interesting result because substances that are structurally similar to these substances are often isolated from microorganisms while being quite rare in plants. Therefore, further studies are needed on this class of substances in the genus of wild pineapples. On the other hand, because the number of studies on other species in the genus Pandanus is very limited, there is a need for studies on other species of this genus in Vietnam and around the world.
The mission has been successful in cooperation and scientific exchange between Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, combining human resources of the two sides to develop and complete initial studies on the chemical composition and some biological activities of species of the genus Pandanus in Vietnam. These results will lay the groundwork for further studies of the composition and biological effects of other Pandanus species. Besides, this collaborative model can also be extended to many research subjects as well as many other research fields in the future.
Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version
