Triterpene glycosides from thalictri herba. II

Ethnobotany, botany, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology of the genus Thalictrum L. (Ranunculaceae): A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae) is known for its important alkaloids which have been reported to exhibit various pharmacological activities, viz. antitumor, antimicrobial, antitussive, antiamebic, hypotensive effects, HIV antiviral, etc. Throughout the world, the plant has been used as a tonic, purgative, stimulant, aperient and is utilized in various systems of medicine in the treatment of various ailments like snake bite, jaundice, rheumatism, stomachache, wounds, swellings, uterine tumors, paralysis, joints pain, nervous disorders, toothache, diarrhea, piles, fever, peptic ulcer, ophthalmic, headache, diuretic, dyspepsia, convalescence, etc. AIMS OF THIS REVIEW: To bring together all the information regarding the botany, phytochemistry, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology of Thalictrum and identify the gaps in the existing studies so that full medicinal potential of the genus can be realized.

METHODS

Available literature on botany, geography, traditional uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacology was gathered by referring to library and electronic searches in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, relevant journals and books.

RESULTS

A variety of phytochemicals like alkaloids, essential oils, glycosides, phenols and terpenoids have been reported from Thalictrum species. Alkaloids are the most dominant diverse group with 178 different types. The crude extracts and isolates exhibit a gamut of pharmacological activities, namely anticancer, antimalarial, antioxidant, antipyretic, anti-tumor, ant-influenza virus, contraceptive and immunosuppressive. Northalrugosidine, an alkaloid from T. alpinum shows in vivo antileishmanial activity. So far, cytotoxic effects of only three Thalictrum species, viz. T. dasycarpum, T. foliolosum and T. simplex have been reported. Thl isolated from T. simplex is found to be 50% toxic (CC50%) at the concentration ranging from 53 to 95 μM.

CONCLUSIONS

Thalictrum has tremendous medicinal values used in many traditional systems of medicine. It has multiple chemical components and still there is scope to explore more. Multiple chemical constituents and its utilization signify its high demand in the drug markets or pharmaceutical companies. In depth phytochemical studies along with in vitro studies with respect to their active principles can help in tapping the full medicinal potential of the genus.

Natural products from medicinal plants: non-alkaloidal natural constituents of the Thalictrum species

Thalictrum is an important plant genus that is widely used in traditional medicine. In this review considerable attention has been given to triterpenoid saponins in connection with their specific distribution in the Thalictrum genus and with their biological activity. All other non-alkaloid compounds isolated from the Thalictrum genus are also reviewed; these metabolites are discussed in relation to their structural features and to their role in the plants.

Cycloartane-type glycosides from thalictri herba

Two new cycloartane-type glycosides, designated as thalictosides V and IX, were isolated from the methanolic extract of Thalictri Herba (Takatogusa), the dried aerial parts of Thalictrum sp. plants. Their chemical structures have been characterized as 3-O-monodesmoside and the 3,21-di-O-bisdesmoside of 3 beta,22 zeta,30-trihydroxycycloart-24-en-21-oic acid, by chemical and spectroscopic evidence.