3,7,10,14,15-pentaacetyl-5-butanoyl-13,17-epoxy-8-myrsinene a novel compound isolated from Pycnocycla spinosa extract with potent anti-spasmodic and antidiarrheal properties

Bioassay monitoring of hydroalcoholic extract from the aerial part of Pyconcycla spinosa revealed that it contains components with spasmolytic activity in vitro. In addition, P. spinosa extract at oral dose of 1-5 mg/kg inhibits diarrhoea in animal models. Pharmacological screening of pure compounds isolated from P. spinosa hydroalcoholic extract led to the identification of 3,7,10,14,15-pentaacetyl-5-butanoyl-13,17-epoxy-8-myrsinene (PABEM) which is a new diterpene. In this research, we have investigated antispasmodic and antidiarrheal effects of PABEM for comparison with P. spinosa extract. Aerial parts of P. spinosa were extracted with ethanol. For antispasmodic studies, rat isolated ileum was suspended in Tyrode's solution in an organ bath. The ileum was contracted by acetylcholine (ACh, 0.5 μM), serotonin (5-HT, 5 μM) or electrical field stimulation (EFS). P. spinosa extract in a concentration dependent manner (10-640 μg/ml) inhibited ileum contractions induced by ACh, 5-HT or EFS. The new compound isolated form P. spinosa extract “PABEM” in a similar manner inhibited the contractile response to ACh, 5-HT and EFS. However, the inhibitory effects of PABEM were observed at much lower bath concentrations. The relaxation effect of PABEM was started at 40 ng/ml bath concentration and with 2.5 μg/ml PABEM in the bath, the contractile responses of ileum were completely abolished. Both hydroalcoholic extract of P. spinosa and PABEM reduced intestinal meal transit and castor oil and MgSO(4) induced diarrhoea in mice. However, PABEM was about 10 times more potent than its parent extract. This research shows that PABEM is probably the main component responsible for antispasmodic and antidiarrheal actions of P. spinosa extract.