Hamada Haba
Batna University, Algeria
Title: Secondary metabolites of some Euphorbia species from the flora of Algeria
Biography
Biography: Hamada Haba
Abstract
There are more than 10000 species in the Euphorbiaceae family. The Euphorbia species is the largest one with diterpenoids and triterpenoids as characteristic secondary metabolites. Euphorbia plants possess a number of interesting biological properties against cancer development such as antitumor, antiproliferative, antioxidant and cytotoxic, and modulation of multidrug resistance. Their antitumor activity was mainly attributed to the presence of abietane diterpene derivatives, tigliane and jatrophane-type diterpenes. This genus containing toxic and skin-irritant milky latex has been used in traditional medicine throughout the world to treat skin, ophthalmologic, migraines, intestinal parasites, warts and snakebites. Here, we were interested in the phytochemical investigation of many Euphorbia species growing in Algeria (North Africa) such as E. guyoniana, E. retusa, E. bupleuroides, E. pterococca, etc. These species are used in Algerian folk medicine to extirpate thorns and to treat warts. Furthermore, it is well known that the decoction of roots of E. bupleuroides is used in Algeria with anti-inflammatory purposes. The latex of E. retusa is used particularly against trichiasis and venomous bites. The present paper describes the isolation and structural elucidation of new diterpenoids and triterpenoids, in addition to known compounds including terpenoids and phenolic compounds from E. guyoniana, E. retusa, E. bupleuroides, E. pterococca and E. atlatica. The structures of all isolated compounds 1–80 were established by extensive analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR, MS, and optical rotation data, as well as comparison with reported literature data. The biological activities (antibacterial, antioxidant etc.) on crude extracts and some isolated products were evaluated.