Pharmacognostic Investigations and in vitro Biological Profile of Illicium angustisepalum

The genus Illicium L. (Schisandraceae) consists of ca. 40 species that form one of the earliest evolutionary branches of angiosperms. It is represented by evergreen trees and shrubs disjunctively distributed in North America, Mexico, Peru, the West Indies and eastern Asia - with the highest concentration of species in Northern Myanmar and Southern China. While Illicium is commonly used as a source for shikimic acid in the production of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), there is a long history of traditional use of this genus as analgesic, antiemetic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, anxiolytic, carminative, digestive, and sedative agents. Early phytochemical studies of the Illicium genus focused on the extraction of essential oils but recently a variety of secondary metabolites were reported, including the structurally unique and rarely occurring in nature seco-prezizaane sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, prenylated phenylpropanes, lignans, and neolignans. Illicium angustisepalum is a sparingly studied representative of Illicium. Its classification and identification as a member of this taxon has been based on the morphological characteristics of its flowers, fruits, leaves, pollen and seeds. Until now, only two peer-reviewed articles regarding its chemistry have been published, and no biological activities of this plant were reported or recorded so far. In order to substantiate the chemical characteristics of this plant species, the metabolite fingerprint of I. angustisepalum was established by GC-MS and compared with those of better-known species, I. verum and I. lanceolatum. The existing variations of the volatiles within this taxon were identified. The phytochemical investigations led to isolation and identification of a total of sixteen secondary metabolites, including two novel compounds. The biological potentials of the isolates were evaluated in a battery of in vitro bioassay systems for cytotoxic, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, acetylcholinesterase inhibiting and neurotrophic activities, and led to determination of an extensive in vitro biological profile of I. angustisepalum.