In vitro anti-ulcer activity and isolation of 5 – hydroxymethyl furan – 2 – carbaldehyde and palmatine from <i>Curculigo pilosa (schumach. & thonn.)</i> Engl.

Abstract

Curculigo pilosa (Schumach. & Thonn.) Engl. (Hypoxidaceae) is commonly used in traditional medicine in the management of several  ailments. The rhizome is traditionally used for treating gastrointestinal diseases. The present study focuses on the in vitro anti-ulcer  activity of Curculigo pilosa and isolation of compounds. Powdered rhizomes of the plant were extracted with methanol. The extract was  successively partitioned into n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol and aqueous fractions. Fractions were  screened for antacid and urease inhibitory activities using titrimetric method and urease inhibitory assay with sodium bicarbonate and  acetohydroxamic acid used as standards. Compounds were isolated from active fractions of the plant using chromatographic techniques.  Structures of isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques. Only compound 1 was evaluated for  urease inhibitory and antacid. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnet multiple comparison test at P 0.05. The n hexane  and aqueous fractions were active in comparison with standard drug acetohydroxamic acid for urease inhibitory assay, while the ethyl  acetate and n butanol fractions gave good antacid activities which were comparable to the activity exhibited by sodium bicarbonate.  5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furancarbaldehyde (1) and Palmatine (2) were isolated for the first time in Curculigo pilosa and new to family  Hypoxidaceae. 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furancarbaldehyde (1) displayed excellent antacid activity. Few compounds have been isolated from  this plant despite the numerous reported biological activities. The antacid and the urease inhibitory activities are reported for the first  time.