Chemical Composition and Hepato-protective activity of Imperata cylindrica Beauv

Phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Imperata cylindrica Beauv. (Graminae), growing in Egypt afforded four methoxylated flavonoids 1-4, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-6´-tetradecanoate 5, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde 6, together with daucosterol, β-sitosterol and α-amyrin 7-9. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first isolation of compounds 1-5 from the genus Imperata. A significant hepato-protective activity had been observed upon co-administration of the methanolic extracts of I. cylindrica with CCl4. The structures were determined using spectroscopic data; 1D (1H and 13C), 2D (HSQC, and HMBC) NMR; MS; UV and IR. KEYWORDS: Methoxylated flavonoids, Imperata cylindrica, steroids, hepato-protective activity.