Octagonal Plants Peel Chemical Composition And Promote Neurite Growth Activity

Illiciaceae has about 34 species, which are distributed in southeastern Asia and NorthAmerica. China is the main distribution area with 24 species. Chinese star anise, the dry ripefruit of Illicium verum, is recorded in China Pharmacopoeia (2000 edition). It is used to warmyang, dispel cold, expel wind and eliminate wetness, regulate vital energy and alleviate painetc. In addition, there are over ten species' root, root bark and fruit with similar efficiency.They can be used for treating rheumatic arthritis, lumbar muscle strain, psychroalgia ofgastric and abdominal etc. Moreover, Chinese star anise was widely used as edible perfume inChina. The fruits from Illiciaceae family are often confused for their similar morphology andmost of them are toxic. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to clarify the chemicalconstituents and bioactivities of this family's fruits. According to the references, the chemical components of the most species of Illiciaceaefamily distributed in China have been studied. However, there are no enough chemical datafor the fruits of Illicium temstroemioides A.C.Smith and Illicium lanceolatum apart from thevolatile oil. This thesis deals with the chemical study of these two species. As results, sevencompounds were isolated from the pericarps of Illicium temstroemioides. By the analysis ofchemical and spectral data, the structures of these compounds were elucidated as β-sitosterol,2,6-dihydroxyhumla-9(E)-3(12),7(13),9-triene, quercetin-7-methyl ester, protocatecheuicacid, shikimic acid, shikimic acid methyl ester and daucosterol. Six compounds wereisolated from the pericarps of Illicium lanceolatum. They were β-sitosterol, 3,4-dimethoxy-benzoic acid, shikimic acid methyl ester, quercetin, protocatecheuic acid and shikimic acid.All the compounds were first isolated from these two species. The compound 2,6-dihy droxy-humla-9(E)-3(12),7(13),9- triene, shikimic acid methyl ester and quercetin-7-methyl esterwere first found from Illiciaceae family. PC12 cell line, which can be induced to neuron by NGF, was used as a cell model to studythe bioactivity of the compounds isolated from Illicium temstroemioides A.C.Smith. Theresults showed that quercetin-7-methyl ester, protocatecheuic acid, shikimic acid methyl esterand daucosterol may be the active components enhancing the growth of neurite. A HPLC method for the determination of protocatecheuic acid in pericarps of Illiciaceaeplants was established for the first time. The contents of protocatecheuic acid in pericarps offifteen species of Illiciacea plants were reported.