Abstract:
Investigation of the different fractions of the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of M. suaveolens
growing in Egypt yielded nine compounds; two new triterpenes [3β-acetyl -22α-hydroxy ursa-12,20-
diene (compound 1) and 2α, 3β-dihydroxy-olean-18-en-29-oic acid (compound 7)] and nine known
compounds: a sterol and its glucoside; β-sitosterol (compound 2) and β-sitosterol-3-O- β-D-glucoside
(compound 4), a triterpene; oleanolic acid (compound 3), two monoterepenes; dihydrolimonene
(compound 5) and 7-hydroxy-p-cymene (compound 6), two flavonoids; isoquercitrin (compound 8) and
rutin (compound 9) which were isolated from M. suaveolens Ehrh. for the first time. The structures of
the isolated compounds were identified by spectral data (UV, MS, 1D and 2D-NMR) and comparison with
authentic samples. Moreover, the ethanolic extract showed potent analgesic activity as compared to
indomethacin. The ethyl acetate fraction was the most potent as anti-inflammatory (88%), followed by
the ethanolic extract (82.9%) as compared with indomethacin. The ethanolic extract and its four
subfractions showed a moderate inhibitory activity against the tested human pathogenic bacteria.