Toward the identification of a phytocannabinoid-like compound in the flowers of a South African medicinal plant (Leonotis leonurus)

BMC Research Notes

M. Stander¹  S. Peters²  J. Kossmann²  E. Hunter²  Bianke Loedolff²  S. Chakraborty³  S. Prince³ 

[1] Central Analytical Facilities, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa;Department of Genetics, Institute of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa;Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa;

关键词: Adrenoyl-EA;    Traditional medicine;    Phytochemistry;    Flowers;    Cannabis;    Phytocannabinoids;    Leonotis leonurus;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13104-020-05372-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveCurrent global trends on natural therapeutics suggest an increasing market interest toward the use and discovery of new plant-derived therapeutic compounds, often referred to as traditional medicine (TM). The Cannabis industry is currently one such focal area receiving attention, owing to the occurrence of phytocannabinoids (pCBs) which have shown promise in health-promotion and disease prevention. However, the occurrence of pCBs in other plant species are often overlooked and rarely studied. Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. Br. is endemic to South Africa with a rich history of use in TM practices amongst indigenous people and, has been recorded to induce mild psychoactive effects akin to Cannabis. While the leaves have been well-reported to contain therapeutic phytochemicals, little information exists on the flowers. Consequently, as part of a larger research venture, we targeted the flowers of L. leonurus for the identification of potential pCB or pCB-like compounds.ResultsFlower extracts were separated and analyzed using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). A single pCB candidate was isolated from HPTLC plates and, using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), we could successfully group this compound as a fatty amide and tentatively identified as 7,10,13,16-Docosatetraenoylethanolamine (adrenoyl-EA), a known bioactive compound.

【 授权许可】

CC BY