Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Sideritis taurica Stephan ex Wild

Fatty acids (FA), hydrocarbons, alpha-amyrin, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol were identified in the n-hexane extract of the aerial parts of Sideritis taurica Stephan ex Wild. Xanthotoxin, as well as 2-acetyl-3-hydroxy-5,6,8-trimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone were isolated from the methylene chloride extract of the plant. In addition to apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and apigenin, previously reported from the plant, hypolaetin 7-O-beta-D-allopyranosyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. From the methanol extract, isoscutellarein 7-O-beta-D-allopyranosyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside was also isolated. Toxicity study of petroleum ether extract (f(1)), ethanolic extract (f(2)), dichloromethane fraction of f(2) (f(3)) and n-butanolic fraction of f(2) (f(4)) of the plant proved that it is relatively nontoxic. The tested extracts and fractions exhibited significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic and anti hyperglycaemic activities, but no anticonvulsant and antipyretic effects, as compared with control groups and reference drugs. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.