Prantschimgin content of a methanolic extract of the roots of Ferulago platycarpa Boiss. & Bal. (Umbelliferae)

Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) is a large family mainly containing coumarins and volatile oils. Ferulago platycarpa Boiss.& Bal. is a perennial endemic species, growing in Nevşehir, Turkey [1]. The species and also the other species of this genus are called „Çakşır“ or „Çağşır“. In addition, species of the genera Ferula and Prangos are also known by these names and though they are reported to have other usages, mainly used as aphrodisiacs in Turkey [2]. In this study, we determined prantschimgin content of the methanolic extracts obtained from the roots of Ferulago platycarpa by HPLC. Prantschimgin was identified for the first time in the roots of F. meioides (L.) Boiss. [3]. It is reported to be present in some other Ferulago species as well [4–6]. External standard method was used to determine prantschimgin content of the methanolic extract of the roots of F. platycarpa and was found to be 1.90%. This value is higher than the prantschimgin content of F. isaurica Peşmen and F. syriaca Boiss which had been determined under similar HPLC conditions (1.17% and 0.91% respectively). We think that this furanocoumarin is one of the major compounds present in the roots and can both serve as a chemotaxonomic marker for the genus Ferulago and also may be responsible for the biological effect.

References: [1] Davis, P. H. (1972) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands Volume 4, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, UK. [2] Baytop, T. (1999) Therapy with Medicinal Plants in Turkey – Past and Present, 2^nd Edn. Nobel Tıp Basımevi, İstanbul, Turkey. [3] Ongyanov, I., Botcheva, D. al (1969) Planta Med. 17(1): 65–70. [4] Doğanca, S. et al. (1997) Fitoterapia 58(1): 80. [5] Jimenez, B. et al. (2000) Phytochem. 53: 1025–1031. [6] Erdurak Kılıç, C.S., Coşkun, M., (2006) Chem. Nat. Compd. 42(3): 351–352.