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Novel biologically active dihydroxycinnamate-derived polyether from different species of family Boraginaceae

Abstract:

Plants belonging to Boraginaceae family such as Symphytum asperum, S.caucasicum, S.officinale and Anchusa italica have been widely used in folk medicine for centuries. Recent pharmacological studies of water-soluble high-molecular fractions from the roots of these species revealed pronounced anticomplementary, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity. However, the active principle responsible for the observed effects of these fractions was not known. The present special communication summarizes the phytochemical data of the last decade on novel dihydroxycinnamatederived polyether - the main constituent of the above-mentioned preparations in order to identify the active principles responsible for their biological activity. Structural analysis of constituents of highmolecular fractions was made, based upon IR, 13C, 1H NMR, 2D heteronuclear 1H/13C HSQC spectra, 1D NOE and 2D DOSY experiments. The main chemical constituent of high-molecular water-soluble preparations from S.asperum, S.caucasicum, S.officinale and A.italica was found to be a novel dihydroxycinnamate-derived polyether, namely poly[oxy-1-carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylene] or poly[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)glyceric acid]. In contrast to Symphytum polymer, most of the carboxylic groups of polymer from A. italica are methylated. © 2013 Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci.