Identification of flavonoids from endemic plant of Iran Zeravshania aucheri (Boiss.) Pimenov.

Flavonoids are among the most widely distributed natural products in plants with 2000 different compounds occuring in free forms or as glycosides. They have assigned differant roles in nature as signalling molecules. The major and general structures are Flavones, Flavonones, Flavonols, Isoflavones and Anthocyanidin. Methylated, acylated, prenylated or sulfated derivatives can also be met. Flavonoid pigments are favoured compounds as taxonomic markers because they are ubiquitous where as most other classes of secondery constituents have a limited distribution. Z. aucheri was selected for analysis among the endemic species of zeravschania from peucedanum s.l complex of parsley family (Apiaceae). Powdered arial parts of plant (300 g) were exteracted with MeOH-water (80-20), concenterated under reduced pressure (27.8 g) and then washed with CHCL3. 12 g methalonic exteract was chromatographed on a silicagel (mesh 30-70) column and sample was eluted with different amount of choloroform and MeOH as solvent. Four fractions were collected according to their UV floresence at 254 and 365 nm. Each fraction was purified by paper choromatography on watman No.1 and 3 with using AcOH 15% and BAW (4:1:5) respectively as developing solvents. The sugar of flavonoids were identified by acid hydrolysis and then paper chromatography on watman no.1 using Et OAc-pyridine and water (12:5:4). Identification of 6-Hydroxy kampferol, 3-7-O-diglucoside, Cherysoeriol, 7-O-glucoside, 6-Methyl kampferol and Caffeic acide were carried out by H-NMR, MS and UV spectroscopy. These compounds have been isolated for the first time from Z.aucheri and the amount of them were 21, 27, 27 and 30 mg respectively. The sugar of flavonoids was identified as glucose compared with authentic sample. Investigation of methanolic extract of Z. aucheri showed that kaempferol derivatives are the major components (48 mg) and the quercetin derivative is the lesser. Flavonoid containing plants have antioxidant, anticancer, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal effect. S.J. Cutler (2000) in USA has reported kaempferol antileukemic effects. Pharmocological study of plant extract could be beneficial for clinical usage in the future.