GC/MS chemical profiling of the aerial parts of Leontice ewersmannii revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds of which 20 compounds were in n-hexane fraction and 3 compounds in basic DCM fraction. Among the identified compounds alkaloids, fatty acids and their esters, fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons, and sterol were detected. Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of L. ewersmannii led to isolation of 17 compounds including 1-heptacosanol (1), phytol (2), lupenone (3), palmitic acid (4), oleic acid (5), stigmasterol (6), stigmast-7-en-3-ol (7), methyl palmitate (8), methyl linoleate (9), butyl palmitate (10), butyl linoleate (11), dimethyl dodecanedioate (12), methyl cerebronate (13), β-sitosterol (14), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (15), sophoridine (16) and camoensine (17). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and GC-MS. All methyl esters of fatty acids are possible artifacts during extraction. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of the total extract and different fractions was screened, and they exhibited no inhibition of the growth at the tested concentration ranging from 8 to 200 μg/mL.
Keywords: Leontice ewersmannii; alkaloids; fatty acids; fatty alcohols; sterols.