Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
SPHAERANTHUS AFRICANUS
LINNAEUS
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: East Indian globe thistle
Distribution: Madagascar, Asia, tropical Africa
Habitat: Freshwater lakes, terrestrial habitats
Description: This species, which grows to a maximum height of 50 cm, has
a stem that is robust, glabrous or pubescent curved, ascending, branched,
and winged. Cauline leaves (4 × 2 cm) are ovate-oblong, and their bases
narrowed and apices rounded. Marginal lorets are numerous and corolla is
tubular. There are three central lorets.
Compounds and activities: The bioactive compounds isolated from this
species include stigmasterol, chrysophenol D, 3,7-dimethoxy-4′5,6-
trihydroxylavone, chrysophenol C, 3α,5β-diangeloxoyloxy-7-hydroxy car-
votanacetone, 1-angeloxoyloxy-3-[4′-angeloxoyloxy-3′-methoxy]-2-propene,
and 1-angeloxoyloxy-3[4′-isopentanoloxoxoyloxy-3′-methoxy]-2-propene.
Among them, compounds chrysophenol D, 3,7-dimethoxy-4′5,6-trihydroxy-
lavone, chrysophenol C, and 3α,5β-diangeloxoyloxy-7-hydroxy carvotan-
acetone showed free radical scavenging activity against the DPPH radical,
and compounds chrysophenol D and 3α,5β-diangeloxoyloxy-7-hydroxy
carvotanacetone exhibited cyclototoxicity against the KB cell (carcinoma
cell line) (Kokpol et al., 2000).
