Anti-hyperlipidemic sesquiterpenes and new sesquiterpene glycosides from the leaves of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.): structure requirement and mode of action

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2003 Jan 20;13(2):223-8. doi: 10.1016/s0960-894x(02)00889-2.

Abstract

The methanolic extract from the leaves of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) was found to suppress serum triglyceride elevation in olive oil-loaded mice. Through bioassay-guided separation, sesquiterpenes (cynaropicrin, aguerin B, and grosheimin) were isolated as the active components together with new sesquiterpene glycosides (cynarascolosides A, B, and C). The oxygen functional groups at the 3- and 8-positions and exo-methylene moiety in alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone ring were found to be essential for the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of guaiane-type sesquiterpene. In addition, inhibition of gastric emptying was shown to be partly involved in anti-hyperlipidemic activity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Clofibrate / pharmacology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cynara / chemistry*
  • Glycosides / isolation & purification
  • Glycosides / pharmacology
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Lipids / blood
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methanol
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology
  • Sesquiterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Solvents
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Glycosides
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Lipids
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Oils
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Solvents
  • Clofibrate
  • Methanol