Two new isoflavones from Ceiba pentandra and their effect on cyclooxygenase-catalyzed prostaglandin biosynthesis

Ceibinin, a new positional isomer of mangiferin from the inflorescence of Ceiba pentandra (Bombacaceae), elicits similar antioxidant effect but no anti-inflammatory potential compared to mangiferin

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Bombacaceae) is popular for the quality of its wood. However, its leaf, stem bark and root bark have been popular in ethnomedicine and, apart from the inflorescence, have been subject of extensive phytochemical investigations. In this study, two compounds were isolated from the crude methanol extract of the inflorescence. Through data from UV, NMR, MS, electrochemical studies, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, the structures were elucidated as 3-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (1) and 2-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (mangiferin, 2). They were assessed for antioxidant efficacy (DCFDA assay) and for anti-inflammatory efficacy using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model in the RAW 264.7 macrophages (nitrite levels quantified, using Griess Assay, as surrogate for nitric oxide (NO)). Compound 1 (named ceibinin) was established as a novel positional isomer of mangiferin (2). While both 1 and 2 were antioxidant against basal and hydrogen peroxide (100 μM)-induced oxidative stress (6.25 μg/ml abrogated peroxide-induced oxidative stress), ceibinin (1) demonstrated no anti-inflammatory potential, unlike mangiferin (2) which, as previously reported, showed anti-inflammatory effect. Our work reports a positional isomer of mangiferin for the first time in C. pentandra and demonstrates how such isomerism could underlie differences in biological activities and thus the potential for development into therapeutics.

In Vitro Induction of Apoptosis in Isolated Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells: The Role of Anastatica hierochuntica Methanolic Extract

Anastatica hierochuntica L. (Cruciferae) has been known in Egyptian folk medicine as a remedy for gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes and heart diseases. Despite the wide usage, A. hierochuntica research provides insufficient data to support its traditional practice. The cytotoxicity of A. hierochuntica methanolic extract was investigated on acute myeloid leukemia blasts (AML) and normal human peripheral leucocytes (NHPL). The phytochemical identification of bioactive compounds using ¹H-NMR and LC-ESI-MS was also performed. A. hierochuntica extract caused non-significant cytotoxicity on NHPL, while the cytotoxicity on AML was significant (IC₅₀: 0.38 ± 0.02 μg/mL). The negative expression of p53, upregulation of Caspase-3 and increase in the BAX/BCL-2 ratio were reported at the protein and mRNA levels. The results suggest that A. hierochuntica extract induced AML cell death via the p53-independent mitochondrial intrinsic pathway and further attention should be paid to this plant as a promising natural anticancer agent.

A new isoflavone glucoside and other compounds from Poiretia bahiana C. Mueller: Chemophenetics, fragmentation pattern and biogenetic implications

The genus Poiretia belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and it encompasses twelve species of flowering plants. The chemistry of this genus is scarcely investigated, although some studies have demonstrated the potential of Poiretia species to produce important bioactive compounds. Herein, we describe the phytochemical investigation of P. bahiana C. Mueller leaves. A new isoflavone glucoside named as 2',4',5'-trimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with six known isoflavones (2-7), two rotenones (8-9), cyclitol 3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol (10), the amino acid proline (11), a mixture of sitosterol (12) and stigmasterol (13), and a mixture of the triterpenes lupeol (14) and β-amirine (15) were obtained from P. bahiana leaves. The structures were established by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data, which included ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, and 2D-NMR (¹³C¹H HETCOR and ¹³C¹H COLOC). Two isoflavones (3 and 5) and two rotenones (8-9) exhibited antifungal activity against the plant pathogenic fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum. Furthermore, the biogenetic implications of the oxygenation pattern of the B-ring of the isoflavones, and the chemophenetics and fragmentation pattern of the isoflavones and rotenones are discussed.

Systematics, Phytochemistry, Biological Activities and Health Promoting Effects of the Plants from the Subfamily Bombacoideae (Family Malvaceae)

Plants belonging to the subfamily Bombacoideae (family Malvaceae) consist of about 304 species, many of them having high economical and medicinal properties. In the past, this plant group was put under Bombacaceae; however, modern molecular and phytochemical findings supported the group as a subfamily of Malvaceae. A detailed search on the number of publications related to the Bombacoideae subfamily was carried out in databases like PubMed and Science Direct using various keywords. Most of the plants in the group are perennial tall trees usually with swollen tree trunks, brightly colored flowers, and large branches. Various plant parts ranging from leaves to seeds to stems of several species are also used as food and fibers in many countries. Members of Bombacoides are used as ornamentals and economic utilities, various plants are used in traditional medication systems for their anti-inflammatory, astringent, stimulant, antipyretic, microbial, analgesic, and diuretic effects. Several phytochemicals, both polar and non-polar compounds, have been detected in this plant group supporting evidence of their medicinal and nutritional uses. The present review provides comprehensive taxonomic, ethno-pharmacological, economic, food and phytochemical properties of the subfamily Bombacoideae.

Plant-Based Phytochemicals as Possible Alternative to Antibiotics in Combating Bacterial Drug Resistance

The unprecedented use of antibiotics that led to development of resistance affect human health worldwide. Prescription of antibiotics imprudently and irrationally in different diseases progressed with the acquisition and as such development of antibiotic resistant microbes that led to the resurgence of pathogenic strains harboring enhanced armors against existing therapeutics. Compromised the treatment regime of a broad range of antibiotics, rise in resistance has threatened human health and increased the treatment cost of diseases. Diverse on metabolic, genetic and physiological fronts, rapid progression of resistant microbes and the lack of a strategic management plan have led researchers to consider plant-derived substances (PDS) as alternative or in complementing antibiotics against the diseases. Considering the quantitative characteristics of plant constituents that attribute health beneficial effects, analytical procedures for their isolation, characterization and phytochemical testing for elucidating ethnopharmacological effects has being worked out for employment in the treatment of different diseases. With an immense potential to combat bacterial infections, PDSs such as polyphenols, alkaloids and tannins, present a great potential for use, either as antimicrobials or as antibiotic resistance modifiers. The present study focuses on the mechanisms by which PDSs help overcome the surge in resistance, approaches for screening different phytochemicals, methods employed in the identification of bioactive components and their testing and strategies that could be adopted for counteracting the lethal consequences of multidrug resistance.

Multimodal α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibition and Antioxidant Effect of the Aqueous and Methanol Extracts from the Trunk Bark of Ceiba pentandra

Postprandial hyperglycemia and oxidative stress are important factors that worsen the health condition of patients with type 2 diabetes. We recently showed that extracts from Ceiba pentandra mitigate hyperglycemia in dexamethasone- and high diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Herein, we evaluated the postprandial regulatory properties and the antioxidant effects of the aqueous (AE) and methanol (ME) extracts from the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra. The phytochemical analysis of AE and ME was performed using the LC-MS technique and the total phenolic and flavonoid assays. Both extracts were tested for their ability to inhibit superoxide anion (O2 •ـ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), protein oxidation, alpha-amylase, and alpha-glucosidase activities. The mode of enzyme inhibition was also determined in a kinetic study. AE and ME were both rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. ME was 2.13 and 1.91 times more concentrated than AE in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, respectively. LC-MS allowed the identification of 5 compounds in both extracts. ME and AE inhibited O2 •ـ with IC50 of 51.81 and 34.26 μg/ml, respectively. On H2O2, they exhibited IC50 of 44.84 and 1.78 μg/ml, respectively. Finally, they exhibited IC50 of 120.60 and 140.40 μg/ml, respectively, in the inhibition of protein oxidation induced by H2O2, while showing IC50 of 39.26 and 97.95 μg/ml on the protein oxidation induced by AAPH. ME and AE inhibited alpha-amylase with IC50 of 6.15 and 54.52 μg/ml, respectively. These extracts also inhibited alpha-glucosidase, demonstrating IC50 of 76.61 and 86.49 μg/ml. AE exhibited a mixed noncompetitive inhibition on both enzymes, whereas ME exhibited a competitive inhibition on α-amylase and a pure noncompetitive inhibition on α-glucosidase. These results demonstrate that ME and AE scavenge reactive oxygen species and prevent their effects on biomolecules. Besides, ME and AE inhibit carbohydrate digestive enzymes. These properties may contribute to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia and regulate glycemia in diabetic patients.

Hypoglycemic Properties of the Aqueous Extract from the Stem Bark of Ceiba pentandra in Dexamethasone-Induced Insulin Resistant Rats

Parts of Ceiba pentandra are wildly used in Africa to treat diabetes and previous works have demonstrated their in vivo antidiabetic effects on type 1 diabetes models. In addition, it has been recently shown that the decoction and the methanol extract from the stem bark of C. pentandra potentiate in vitro, the peripheral glucose consumption by the liver and skeletal muscle slices. But nothing is known about its effect on type II diabetes, especially on insulin resistance condition. We investigated herein the antihyperglycemic, insulin-sensitizing potential, and cardioprotective effects of the dried decoction from the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra (DCP) in dexamethasone-induced insulin resistant rats. DCP phytochemical analysis using LC-MS showed the presence of many compounds, including 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthaquinone, 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenol, and vavain. Wistar rats were given intramuscularly (i.m.) dexamethasone (1 mg/kg/day) alone or concomitantly with oral doses of DCP (75 or 150 mg/kg/day) or metformin (40 mg/kg/day) for 9 days. Parameters such as body weight, glycemia, oral glucose tolerance, plasma triglycerides and cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart rate were evaluated. Moreover, cardiac, hepatic and aortic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase), malondialdehyde level, and nitric oxide content were determined. DCP decreased glycemia by up to 34% and corrected the impairment of glucose tolerance induced by dexamethasone but has no significant effect on blood pressure and heart rate. DCP reduced the total plasma cholesterol and triglycerides as compared to animals treated only with dexamethasone. DCP also increased catalase, glutathione, and NO levels impaired by dexamethasone, without any effect on SOD and malondialdehyde. In conclusion, the decoction of the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra has insulin sensitive effects as demonstrated by the improvement of glucose tolerance, oxidative status, and plasma lipid profile. This extract may therefore be a good candidate for the treatment of type II diabetes.

Evaluation of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertner bark extracts for in vitro cytotoxicity on cancer cells and in vivo antitumor activity in solid and liquid tumor models

The stem bark of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertner is claimed to be useful in the treatment of tumors in the southern part of India. This plant possesses a number of sesquiterpenoids and isoflavones which are known for their anticancer properties. The present study was designed to scientifically evaluate the cytotoxic potential of bark extracts in in vitro on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC), MCF-7 and B16F10 cells and in vivo in EAC (Liquid tumor) model and Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA or solid tumor) model. The bark was powdered and extracted successively with solvents viz., petroleum ether (PE), benzene, chloroform, acetone (AC), and ethyl alcohol in the sequential order of polarity. Cytotoxicity of dried extracts was screened on EAC cells by trypan blue assay. Three potent extracts namely petroleum ether, acetone, and ethanol were screened for their cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and B16F10 cells by MTT assay and nucleomorphological alteration by propidium iodide staining. Safe doses of these extracts were evaluated by acute toxicity study in mice. Extracts were found to be safe up to 300 mg/kg in acute toxicity study. Dosage of 1/10th and 1/20th of safe dose i.e., 15 and 30 mg/kg were selected for in vivo study. In the EAC model, both doses of the extracts showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in mean survival time and a maximum decline in tumor induced increase in body weight (an indirect measure of tumor weight) by the PE and AC treatment at 15 mg/kg compared to control. In the DLA-model, all extracts at both tested dose levels showed >50 % reduction in tumor weight and a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in tumor volume on the 30th day compared to control. It can be concluded that these extracts possess cytotoxic and antitumor activity.

Discovery and resupply of pharmacologically active plant-derived natural products: A review

Medicinal plants have historically proven their value as a source of molecules with therapeutic potential, and nowadays still represent an important pool for the identification of novel drug leads. In the past decades, pharmaceutical industry focused mainly on libraries of synthetic compounds as drug discovery source. They are comparably easy to produce and resupply, and demonstrate good compatibility with established high throughput screening (HTS) platforms. However, at the same time there has been a declining trend in the number of new drugs reaching the market, raising renewed scientific interest in drug discovery from natural sources, despite of its known challenges. In this survey, a brief outline of historical development is provided together with a comprehensive overview of used approaches and recent developments relevant to plant-derived natural product drug discovery. Associated challenges and major strengths of natural product-based drug discovery are critically discussed. A snapshot of the advanced plant-derived natural products that are currently in actively recruiting clinical trials is also presented. Importantly, the transition of a natural compound from a "screening hit" through a "drug lead" to a "marketed drug" is associated with increasingly challenging demands for compound amount, which often cannot be met by re-isolation from the respective plant sources. In this regard, existing alternatives for resupply are also discussed, including different biotechnology approaches and total organic synthesis. While the intrinsic complexity of natural product-based drug discovery necessitates highly integrated interdisciplinary approaches, the reviewed scientific developments, recent technological advances, and research trends clearly indicate that natural products will be among the most important sources of new drugs also in the future.

In vitro anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant properties of extracts from the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra

BACKGROUND

The goal of the study was to determine the antidiabetic mechanisms and the antioxidant effects of aqueous (decoction and maceration) and methanol extracts from the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra.

METHODS

These extracts were tested in vitro on glucose uptake by skeletal muscles and liver slices and on glucose release by liver slices. The antioxidant activities of C. pentandra extracts were investigated at concentrations ranging from 1 to 300 µg/mL on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced hemolysis, H2O2-induced brain lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl (˙OH) radical as well as their reducing power.

RESULTS

The decoction similarly to insulin exhibited a significant glucose lowering activity. In a hyperglycemic milieu, it significantly increased glucose uptake by the liver by 56.57% and in the skeletal muscle by 94.19%. In a hypoglycemic milieu, it significantly reduced glucose release by the liver by 33.94%. The decoction, maceration and methanol extracts exhibited a significant radical scavenging activity on DPPH with respective EC50 of 87.84, 54.77 and 6.15 µg/mL versus 2.24 µg/mL observed with ascorbic acid. All the extracts showed a significant antioxidant effect on hydroxyl radical, against lipid peroxidation and H2O2-induced hemolysis. The decoction showed the greatest antihemolytic effect with a maximum inhibition of 77.57% at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. C. pentandra extracts also showed a concentration-dependent reducing power.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the antidiabetic effect of C. pentandra is due to its ability to increase glucose uptake and to reduce glucose release by target organs. The antioxidant properties of C. pentandra extracts are additional benefit for their antidiabetic effects.

Antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging capacity of phenolic extracts from Helicteres isora L. and Ceiba pentandra L

In the present study, antioxidant activities of the phenolic extracts from H. isora fruits and C. pentandra seeds were investigated by employing established in vitro systems, which included reducing power, OH(●), DPPH(●), ABTS(●+), linoleic acid emulsion, metal chelation and antihemolytic activity. The extracts of C. pentandra contained relatively higher levels of total phenolics and flavonoids than those of H. isora. All the extracts showed dose dependent reducing power activity and moreover, they were well correlated with the total phenolic substances. A similar dose dependant trend has also been observed for hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and DPPH(●) radical scavenging activity. Further, addition of 250 μg of extracts to the reaction mixture produced 41.3-54.6% peroxidation inhibiting activity during 60 h of incubation. The potential of multiple antioxidant activity of samples can be further evidenced by inhibition of reactive oxygen mediated erythrocyte cell lysis and metal ion chelating activity.

Bombacaceae: a phytochemical review

CONTEXT

Bombacaceae is a small family of the order Malvales and contains about 28 genera and 200 species. Members of this family are not only showy ornamentals but they possess significant economical and commercial reputation as well. In addition, various plant parts of several species are widely used as foods and traditional medicines in many parts of the world.

OBJECTIVE

Chemical analyses of Bombacaceae species have recently yielded a number of important phytocompounds belonging to different classes. Hence, this work represents a comprehensive appraisal of the phytochemical studies conducted on Bombacaceae plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Searches were conducted using electronic databases (e.g., Medline, Pubmed, Academic Journals, and Springer Link); general web searches were also undertaken using Google applying some related search terms "e.g., Bombacaceae, phytochemical studies of Bombacaeae plants, and chemical investigation of Bombacaeae", journals and scientific theses. The bibliographies of papers relating to the review subject were also searched for further relevant references.

RESULTS

Chemical investigations were concentrated primarily on certain species leaving fertile fields for further phytopharmacological research.

CONCLUSION

The reviewed findings present Bombacaceae species as an untapped reservoir of phytocompounds which may play a supportive role in the pharmaceutical field and will be of high chemotaxonomic value within this recently separated family.

Enhancement of volatile aglycone recovery facilitated by acid hydrolysis of glucosides from Nicotiana flower species

Four different Nicotiana flowers (Nicotiana alata (alata), Nicotiana sylvestris (Sy), Nicotiana suaveolens (Su), and Nicotiana tabacum cv. Flue-Cured (FC)) from farms in Virginia and North Carolina were harvested and promptly quenched with liquid nitrogen and hand-ground prior to analysis. Each Nicotiana flower was pre-extracted with hexane to remove unbound volatiles. Fifteen standard compounds that were thought to be in the pre-extract were employed to aid in GC-MS identification and quantification. Glucosides were then chromatographically isolated and next hydrolyzed via 2 M sulfuric acid for 24 h at 75 °C. For each flower, the products of hydrolysis were extracted in tandem with hexane and dichloromethane (DCM) prior to analysis by GC-MS. The mixture of hexane and DCM extracts of the flowers after hydrolysis were then analyzed for each of 15 external standards via GC-MS to determine the concentration of any isolated flower-derived aglycone. Quantitative results for each of the possible 15 free volatile compounds extracted before and after hydrolysis were compared. Benzyl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol, and cis-3-hexenol were found in all Nicotiana both before and after acid hydrolysis. Enormous increases in the mass of benzyl alcohol and phenethyl alcohol were obtained with all flowers as a result of acid hydrolysis. With selected Nicotiana flowers, significant increases were observed for eugenol and cinnamaldehyde. The significant increases observed in cinnamaldehyde and eugenol upon mild acid hydrolysis strongly indicate that this approach could be a viable alternative process for the production scale isolation of these important natural flavor compounds.

Protective effect of stem bark of Ceiba pentandra linn. against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The present study reports protective activity of ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of stem bark of Ceiba pentandra against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats. The ethyl acetate fraction (400 mg/kg) was administered orally to the rats with hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol (3 gm/kg). Silymarin (100 mg/kg) was used as positive control. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting of ethyl acetate fraction revealed presence of its major chemical constituents. A significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum enzymes GOT (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), GPT alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin content and histopathological screening in the rats treated gave indication that ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic extract of Ceiba pentandra possesses hepatoprotective potential against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Antidiabetic effect of Equisetum arvense L. (Equisetaceae) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male rats

In view of alleged antidiabetic potential effect of the methanol, n-hexan and dichloromethane extracts of Equisetum arvense of blood sugar and body weight in streptozotocin-induced (50 mg kg(-1), i.p. dissolved in normal saline) diabetic rats were investigated. The blood glucose lowering activity of the methanol, n-hexan and dichloromethane extracts was determined in steptozotocin-induced diabetic rats; after oral administration in doses of 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg kg(-1) daily for 5 weeks. The data was compare statistically using one-way ANOVA tukey test. The results showed that in different doses of methanolic extract, dichloromethane extract at doses of 50 and 250 mg kg(-1) and n-hexan extract (50 mg kg(-1)), blood sugar decreased significantly in comparison with the treatment and control groups of diabetic rats. Also the weights of methanolic-extract treatment group were higher than the other treatment groups. The present studies clearly indicate a significant antidiabetic effect with the methanolic extract of Equisetum arvense and lend support for its traditional usage. Further investigation on identification of the active principles and their mode of action are needed to unravel the molecular mechanisms involved in the observed effects.

The effect of Equisetum arvense L. (Equisetaceae) in histological changes of pancreatic beta-cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic in rats

In view of alleged, the methanolic extract of Equisetum arvense was analysed for its antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The blood glucose lowering activity of the methanolic extract was determined in streptozotocin-induced (50 mg kg(-1), i.p.; dissolved in normal saline) diabetic rats, after oral administration in doses of 50 and 250 mg kg(-1) daily for 5 weeks. The data was compare statistically using one-way ANOVA tukey test. The results showed methanolic extract of Equisetum arvense produced a significant antidiabetic activity at doses 50 and 50 mg kg(-1)/b.wt. Concurrent histological studies of the pancreas of these animals showed comparable regeneration by methanolic extract which were earlier, necrosed by streptozotocin.

Bioprospecting Rumphius's Ambonese Herbal: Volume I

Collaborating with traditional healers remains a valid method for the identification of potential lead compounds for novel pharmaceuticals. However, the knowledge of these traditional healers is rapidly being lost. Historic herbal texts provide a unique window to identify plants whose specific uses are no longer known. We have identified nine plants in the 17th century Ambonese Herbal: Volume I which were documented as having medicinal properties but which have not been examined in the current literature. We demonstrate that by evaluating plant and herb efficacy reports from historic texts, in the context of comprehensive modern databases such as NAPRALERT, we can ultimately identify candidate specimens deserving further pharmacological study.

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of antimalarial medicinal plants used in Vietnamese traditional medicine

Among 42 extracts, prepared from 14 medicinal plants used in Vietnamese traditional medicine to treat malaria, 24 were found to have antiplasmodial activity by inhibiting the growth of the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain FCR-3 with EC(50) values less than 10 microg/ml. Each medicinal plant possessed at least one active extract. The methanol extract of Coscinium fenestratum had the strongest antiplasmodial activity with EC(50) value of 0.5 microg/ml. Activity-guided fractionation led to identification of berberine as the major active constituent.

A new isoflavone glycoside from Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertner

From the 80% EtOH extract of the bark of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertner, a new isoflavone glycoside was isolated along with known isoflavones, vavain and vavain glucoside. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis as 5-hydroxy-7,4',5'-trimethoxyisoflavone 3'-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Xanthones and flavonoids from Leiothrix curvifolia and Leiothrix flavescens

8-Carboxymethyl-1,6-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone, 8-carboxymethyl-1,5,6-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone and 8-carboxymethyl-1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone were isolated from the capitula of Leiothrix curvifolia and Leiothrix flavescens and characterized by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as by electrospray mass spectrometry. Eight known flavonoids were also isolated and they were identified by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and comparison with literature data.