Introduction

Buttercup (Ranunculus muricatus L., Family Ranunculaceae) had been used for heart diseases and cancer in folker medicine. Inspection of plant derived drugs included in western pharmacopoeias shows their importance with different pharmacological activity; e.g. quinine from Cinchona, reserpine from Rauwolfia serpentina, vinblastine and vincristine from Catharanthus roseus, taxol from Taxus brevifolia and semisynthetic products such as steroidal hormones depends on plant sources for starting material1. The Genus Ranunculus consists of 600 species. Ranunculus muricatus, a species of buttercup known by the common name Spinyfruit buttercup, is distributed in Atlantic and Southern Europe, West and South West Asia, Crimea, Caucasus, Southern Siberia, India and Pakistan2.

Tricin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, anemonin, β-sitosterol, isoscopoletin and protocatechuyl aldehyde were isolated from Ranunculus muricatus and have shown antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumonia. In particular, tricin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside showed a potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC value of 0.156 mg/ml3.

Search for therapeutically useful herbal antioxidants is a hot subject in the field of medical biology. Recently, many antioxidants have been established; nalewkas, cold brew coffee, Solanum xanthocarpum, Zaleya pentandra, and Erythrina superosa are some of them4,5,6,7,8. Caffeoyl derivatives are present in various plants and have been proved to be antioxidants9,10,11.

Objective of the present study was the antioxidant activity evaluation of aerial parts of Ranunculus muricatus methanolic extract.

Results

Isolation of active constituents

Methanolic extract (10 g) of aerial parts of Ranunculus muricatus (RMAPM) was fractionated on column by using silica gel 60 (40–63 μm) as stationary phase, ethyl acetate and methanol was used as mobile phase. Four fractions were obtained (RMAPM1-4). The fraction RMAPM-1(1.093 g) was further separated by column chromatography on silica gel 60 (40–63 μm) and chloroform: methanol: water (80:20:2) as mobile phase. Four fractions were obtained (RMAPM-1a to RMAPM-1d). The fractions RMAPM-1c (40 mg) was further fractionated by gel chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 as stationary phase and methanol as mobile phase and four fractions were obtained. The fraction RMAPM-1c2 was found to be pure compound A (5 mg). The fraction RMAPM-1c3 (6 mg) was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using stepwise elution to afford compound B (RMAPM-1c3b) 2.8 mg. The isolation scheme of compounds A and B is given in Fig. 1.

Figure 1
figure 1

Isolation of compounds A and B from methanol extract of aerial parts of Ranunculus muricatus. *The two isolated compounds.

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Structural elucidation of isolated compounds

Compound A (Caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside)

Chemical structure of Compound A elucidated from the data is given in Fig. 2.

Figure 2
figure 2

Compound A (Caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside).

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Physical Data:

White crystalline solid

Yield: 5 mg

M.P.: 326 °C

UVλmax: 206 (3.1) nm

[α]D25: +45(c = 0.022, MeOH)

IR: (KBr) νmax cm−1:3423, 1663 and 1600–1400

1H-NMR: (500 MHz)

Proton appeared at δ 7.05 (1H, d, J = 2.0 Hz, H-2), δ 6.96 (1H, dd, J = 8.0, 2.0 Hz, H-6), δ 6.77 (1H, d, J = 8.0 Hz, H-5), δ 7.64 (1H,d, J = 16 Hz), δ 6.29 (1H,d, J = 16 Hz), δ 5.56 (1H, d, J = 8.0 Hz, H-1′), δ 3.35–3.46 (1H, m, H-2′), δ 3.35–3.46 (1H, m, H-3′), δ 3.35–3.46 (1H, m, H-4′), δ 3.35–3.46 (1H, m, H-5′), δ 3.84(1H, dd, J = 12.5, 1.5 Hz, H-6a′) (1H, dd, J = 12.0, 5.0 Hz, H-6b′).

13C-NMR: (150 MHz)

Carbon at δ 127.57(C-1), δ 114.33 (C-2), δ 148.4 (C-3), δ 149.94 (C-4), δ 115.22 (C-6), δ 123.26 (C-7), δ 146.87 C-7 and δ 116.52 (C-8), δ 167.79 (C-9), δ 95.75(C-1′), δ 78.79 (C-2′), δ 77.99 (C-3′), δ 74.02 (C-4′), δ 71.07(C-5′) and δ 62.31 (C-6′).

EI-MS:

342 (76), 180 (100), 164 (13), 148 (37), 165 (26), 104 (18) and77 (47) m/z with (rel. int.)

HR-EI-MS:

342.0689 (calculated for C15H18O9, 342.0695)

Compound B (1,3-dihydroxy-2-tetracosanoylamino-4-(E)-nonadecene)

Chemical structure of Compound B elucidated from the data is given in Fig. 3.

Figure 3
figure 3

Compound B (1,3-dihydroxy-2-tetracosanoylamino-4-(E)-nonadecene).

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Physical Data:

Colorless amorphous powder

Yield: 2.8 mg

[α]D25: −19.1° (c 0.021, pyridine)

IR; 3300 (O-H), 1660 (C=C), 1642 (C=O) cm−1 by KBr methods

EI-MS: 284 (31), 269 (16), 225 (21), 195 (12), 169 (10) m/z with (rel. int.)

HR-EI-MS: 663.6512 (calculated for C43H85NO3, 663.6529)

1H-NMR: (500 MHz)

Proton resonated at δ 1.28 (brs, singlet), δ 4.17 (dd, J = 3.1, 11.1 Hz, H-1), δ 4.12 (dd, J = 3.1, 11.1 Hz, H-1), δ 5.25 (H-5) (dt, J = 7, 17 Hz), δ 4.96 (H-4) (dd, J = 7, 17 Hz), δ 0.84 (6H, t, J = 6.8 Hz, CH3-24′, 19), δ 4.26 (m, H-3), δ 3.96 (m, H-2), δ 7.51 (1H, d, J = 8.7 Hz, NH).

13C-NMR: (125 MHz)

Carbon at δ 165.2 (C-1′), δ 124.4 (C-4) δ 123.9 (C-5) δ 76.2 (C-3), δ 68.3 (C-1), δ 48.6 (C-2) δ 31.1, all other methylene in the range of δ 29.7–31.4, δ 20.5 (C-19), δ 14.2 (C-24′).

Antioxidant Activity (DPPH radical scavenging activities of isolated compounds)

In vitro free radical scavenging activities of isolated compounds A & B were performed using the standard techniques. The inhibition (%) at 0.5 mM was measured and IC50 (μM) values were calculated. The results are shown in Table 1. Data shows that compounds A and B exhibited a significant antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH radical scavenging method with a percent inhibition value of 82.67 ± 0.19 and 69.23 ± 0.19 respectively at 0.5 mM. Quercetin was used as control.

Table 1 Results of DPPH radical scavenging activities of compounds A & B.
Full size table

Discussion

Different active constituents have been isolated from Ranunculus species12,13,14,15. Ranunculus species have been evaluated to have antibacterial16,17, cytotoxic18, antiviral19 and antifungal20 activity.

The compound A was obtained as white crystalline solid from the methanol soluble fraction, mp 326 °C. It gave violet colour when treated with FeCl3 (recognition test for phenol). The absorption bands in the UV spectrum were observed at 335, 273 and 202 nm while in the IR spectrum showed absorption bands at 3423, 1663 and 1600–1400 cm−1. The low resolution EI mass spectrum showed the molecular ion peak at m/z 342 while the HR-EIMS showed the [M]+ peak at m/z 342.0689 which deduced the molecular formula C15H18O9. The 1H-NMR spectrum showed signal at substituted phenyl ring (ABX system) at δ 7.05 (1H, d, J = 2.0 Hz, H-2), δ 6.96 (1H, dd, J = 8.0, 2.0 Hz, H-6) and δ 6.77 (1H, d, J = 8.0 Hz, H-5). The signals appeared at δ 7.64 (1H, d, J = 16 Hz) and δ 6.29 (1H, d, J = 16 Hz) were assigned due to olefinic protons attached to C-7 and C-8 respectively. The methine protons of glucosidal moiety were observed in the range of δ 3.35–3.46 while the anomeric proton resonated as doublet at δ 5.56 (1H, d, J = 8.0 Hz, H-1′). The 13C NMR (BB and DEPT) spectra showed the 15 carbon signals consisting of one methylene, ten methine and four quaternary carbon atoms. The 13C-NMR spectrum showed characteristic pattern of cinnamoyl moiety while the signals at δ 95.75 and δ 79.2–62.3 were of glucose moiety. On the basis of spectral data compound A could be identified as caffeoyl- β-D-glucopyranoside21.

Compound B was obtained as a colorless amorphous solid belongs to ceramide family. Its IR spectrum gives absorptions at 3300 cm−1 for a hydroxyl moiety, 1642 cm−1 for a carbonyl group. EIMS gives M+ ion peak at m/z 663 (calculated for C43H85NO3, 663.6529) corresponding to the molecular formula C43H85NO3. The large numbers of methylene groups at δ 1.28 were observed in 1H-NMR spectrum. It further showed nonequivalent methylene proton (H-1) signals at δ 4.17 (dd, J = 3.1, 11.1 Hz) and δ 4.12 (dd, J = 3.1, 11.1 Hz), two olefinic proton signals at δ 5.25 (H-5) (dt, J = 7, 17 Hz) and δ 4.96 (H-4) (dd, J = 7, 17 Hz) and two methine protons at δ 4.26 (m, H-3) and δ 3.96 (m, H-2). The large coupling constants (J = 17 Hz) of two methine protons at δ 5.25 and δ 4.96 revealed the (E) configuration of the double bond. The 13NMR DEPT spectrum showed five methine carbon groups resonated at δ 124.8, 123.1, 76.2, 48.6, 31.1, one oxy methylene carbons appeared at δ 68.3 and two methyl carbons appeared at δ 20.5 and δ14.2. There connectivities were determined by using 2D NMR techniques including HMBC and HMQC. On the basis of reported data compound B could be identified as 1,3-dihydroxy-2-tetracosanoylamino-4-(E)-nonadecene22.

Ranunculaceae are generally well known for their antioxidant properties. Many active compounds have been isolated from these species that have been evidenced to posses’ antioxidant activity. Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus platanifolius, Ranunculus repens, and Ranunculus serpens were characterized by a high percentage of hexadecanoic acid, followed by phytol, octadecadienoic and octadecatrienoic acids, which have antioxidant activities23,24. Caffeoyl derivatives have been demonstrated to have antioxidant properties. 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, methyl 3,4-di-O-caffeoyl quinate, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, methyl 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinate, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and methyl 4,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinate present in Dipsacus asper showed antioxidant activity11. Caffeoyl malate anhydride and its derivative also showed antioxidant activity25. Caffeoylaltraric acid and caffeoylquinic acid present in Smallanthus sonchifolius also showed antioxidant property9. Therefore, presence of caffeoyl derivative in Ranunculus muricatus gave a clue to have antioxidant activity and finaly, the present study verified the anti-oxidant activity of Ranunculus muricatus by using DPPH radical scavenging method.

Conclusion

It was concluded from the present study that caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-tetracosanoylamino-4-(E)-nonadecene isolated from methanol extract of aerial parts of Ranunculus muricatus posses antioxidant activity.

Materials and Methods

Plant material

The plant material of Ranunculus muricatus was collected from the fresh water of the Lower Bari Doab Canal flowing in the area of Khanewal in the month of April 2012. The plant was identified by Prof. Dr. Altaf Ahmad Dasti and Dr. Zafarullah Zafar, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. The voucher specimen has been deposited in herbarium with reference No. R.R. STEWART 271-7.

Extraction

The plants parts were shade dried at room temperature and powdered and extracted with methanol at room temperature for 24 hours. The extracts were concentrated under vacuum on Rota vapor model No. Buchi-rotavapor R.200.

Antioxidant activity

The free radical scavenging activity was measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay7. The DPPH stock solution was prepared by dissolving 20 mg DPPH in 100 ml 95% methanol. This stock solution was stored at −20 °C until needed not more than 10 days. DPPH working solution was prepared by diluting the stock of DPPH solution by adding methanol and absorbance was adjusted about 0.980 ± 0.02 at wave length 517 nm using the spectrophotometer. 3 ml aliquot of this working solution mixed with 100 µl of the plant samples at five different varying concentrations (4–322 µg/ml). The solutions in the test tubes shacked well and put in dark for 15 minutes at room temperature. Then again the absorbance was measured at 517 nm. The percentage scavenging activity was determined based on the percentage of DPPH radical scavenged by using the following equation.

$${\rm{Scavenging}}\,{\rm{effect}}( \% )=[{\rm{control}}\,{\rm{absorbance}}-{\rm{sample}}\,\mathrm{absorbance}/\mathrm{control}\,{\rm{absorbance}}]\times 100$$

Spectral analysis

Column chromatography was used for the active compounds isolation. Ultraviolet (UV) spectras (MeOH, solvents) were recorded on Perkin Elmer Lambda-25 spectrophotometer. Infrared (IR) spectra were measured on Alpha Bruker Infrared instruments. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectra were recorded in CD3OD and CDCl3 using TMS as internal standard at 300 MHz, 400 MHz, 500 MHz and 600 MHz on Bruker NMR spectrometers. The 13C-NMR spectra at (75, 100, 125 and 150 MHz) were also recorded using same instruments in same solvents as in 1H-NMR. The 2D NMR (HMBC, HSQC) spectra were recorded in CD3OD, and CDCl3 at 300 MHz, 400 MHz, 500 MHz and 600 MHz on the same instruments.

Low resolution EIMS spectra were recorded on a Finnigan MAT 311 with MassPec data system. Peak matching, fields desorption (FD) and field ionization (FI) were performed on the Finnigan MAT 312 mass spectrometer. Jeol JMS (HX 110) MS were used for the measurement of HRMS.

Statistical analysis

The statistics applied was the student t-test and p < 0.05 was considered as significant.

Ethical approval

Experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Ethical Review Committee. Furthermore, all methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.