Extracts and isolated flavonoids from euphorbia cuneata useful as anti-ulcer agents

Abstract

The present invention relates to flavonoids isolated from Euphorbia cuneata , a method for their isolation, extracts from Euphorbia cuneata and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the flavonoids or the extracts or both of them for a use as anti-ulcer agent.

1 . A compound selected from 4′-O-methoxy-luteolin-7-O-rhamnoglucoside and aromadendrin. 
     
     
         2 . An extract from  Euphorbia cuneata  comprising the compound of  claim 1 , selected from one of the first or second extracts, obtained by the following steps:
 a) providing a plant material derived from  Euphorbia cuneata,      b) drying the plant material,   c) extracting the plant material using a first organic solvent to obtain a first extract,   d) concentrating the first extract,   e) optionally, suspending the concentrated first extract obtained in step d) in water,   f) extracting the watery phase obtained in step e) using a second organic solvent to obtain a second extract, and   g) concentrating the second extract.   
     
     
         3 . The extract according to  claim 2 , wherein the plant material consists of the aerial parts of  Euphorbia cuneata.    
     
     
         4 . The extract according to  claim 2 , wherein drying is carried out in air. 
     
     
         5 . The extract according to  claim 2 , wherein drying is carried out in the dark. 
     
     
         6 . The extract according to  claim 2 , wherein the first extraction is carried in a soxhlet apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The extract according to  claim 2 , wherein the first organic solvent is ethanol. 
     
     
         8 . The extract according to  claim 2 , wherein concentration of the first and/or second extract is carried out under reduced pressure at a temperature below 35° C. 
     
     
         9 . The extract according to  claim 2 , wherein the second organic solvent is diethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate or n-butanol, preferably ethyl acetate or n-butanol. 
     
     
         10 . A method to isolate a compound selected from the group consisting of 4′-O-methoxy-luteolin-7-O-rhamnoglucoside and/or aromadendrin from  Euphorbia cuneata , comprising the following steps:
 h) first purification of the concentrated second extract obtained in step g) of  claim 2  by column chromatography, 
 i) second purification of a residual obtained in step h) by preparative thin layer chromatography, and 
 j) third purification of a residual obtained in step i) by gel filtration, to obtain one or more of the compounds. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the stationary phase used for the column chromatography is silica gel. 
     
     
         12 . The method according  claim 10 , wherein the eluent used for the column chromatography is ethyl acetate or methanol or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a cross-linked dextran gel is used for gel filtration. 
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising 4′-O-methoxy-luteolin-7-O-rhamnoglucoside and/or aromadendrin according to  claim 1   
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 14 , formulated for oral administration. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating an animal in need thereof comprising administering to the animal the compound of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating an animal in need thereof comprising administering to the animal the extract of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating an animal in need thereof comprising administering to the animal the extract of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         19 . A method of treating an animal in need thereof comprising administering to the animal the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising 4′-O-methoxy-luteolin-7-O-rhamnoglucoside and/or aromadendrin according to  claim 2 .