Phytochemical Study of the Bioactive Fractions of Chrysanthemum fructescens L . Cultivated in Egypt

Phytochemical study of the aerial flowering parts of Chrysanthemum fructesens L. Family Astraceae, cultivated in Egypt, revealed the presence of an appreciable percentage of volatile oil and phenolic compounds. The volatile oil was prepared (0.5%) and analyzed by GC/MS which revealed the identification of 20 compounds, the major is (Z)-1-farnesene (37.21 %). The volatile oil was tested for antimicrobial activity and inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonus aerugenosa and Candida albicans. The non-polar extract and the volatile oil showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, using carrageenan-induced oedema in rats while the non-polar extract showed analgesic activity using acetic acid induced writhing with reduction of the writhing score (23.8 %). The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the polar aqueous methanolic extract of C. frutescens was evaluated. Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of 6 compounds 4,5-di-o-caffeoyl quinic acid (IC50 = 16.18 μg/ml), methyl 4,5-di-ocaffeoyl quinic (IC50=13.25 μg/ml), 1,5-di-o-caffeoyl quinic acid (IC50=42.9μg/ml), methyl 1,5-di-o-caffeoyl quinate (IC50=77.0 μg /ml), apigenin 7-o-glucopyranoside (IC50=78.00mg/ml) and mellilotoside (IC50>200 μg/ml).