| Abstract: Background: In this investigation, we aimed to purify and elucidate compounds from
Spatoglossum asperum J. Agardh (Dictyotaceae). Moreover, general toxicity, anti-proliferative,
antibacterial and antioxidant properties of crude extracts were studied.
Methods: The extract was isolated by petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol
(MeOH) using Soxhlet. The PE and DCM extracts were subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and elution was done by n-hexane and ethyl acetate mixtures. Collected fractions were
analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The fraction of PE (eluted by ethyl
acetate: hexane (8:92) mixture) was subjected to column chromatography (CC) using a gradient
mixture of ethyl acetate and chloroform mixture and compound (1) and (2) were purified. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses
including UV, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. The antioxidant activity of all extracts was assessed using the
DPPH method and anti-proliferative activity was evaluated by MTT assay. Brine shrimp lethality
assay (BSLA) was also used to determine the general toxicity of extracts. NMR data and facts retrieved
from literature showed that compound (1) and (2) were caulerpin and trioleoylglycerol, respectively.
Results and Conclusion: All crude extracts showed weak cytotoxic activity against L5178Y mouse
lymphoma cells compared with podophyllotoxin. Finally, GC/MS analysis showed that tocopherol
(11.44%), fucosterol (11.6%) and isoaromadendrene epoxide (7.83%) were the most abundant
components in PE extract and stigmas-5-3 ol (20.22%), isoaromadendrene epoxide (22.01%) and
tocopherol (4%) were the major compounds in DCM extract. Conclusively, our results showed that
Spatoglossum asperum is a hopeful source for the different bioactive sterols including fucosterol
and tocopherol. |