Isolation and identification of 6-methoxy parillin and coniferin from the bulbs of Allium affine L.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Phytochemically, Allium species are a rich source of important secondary metabolites especially steroidal saponin and sapogenins, flavonoids, and sulfur compounds. As a member of this genus, Allium affine, which is locally known as “tareh kouhi”, is an endemic plant of middle Asian countries. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Bulbs of A. affine were collected and air-dried in the shade. The chloroform-methanol (9:1) extract of the sample was subjected to purification by MPLC and HPLC. Structure elucidation of isolated compounds was done using comprehensive spectroscopic methods including 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR, and MS. FINDINGS/RESULTS: A steroidal saponin structurally related to parillin and a phenylpropanoid glycoside (coniferin) were isolated and identified from the plant chloroform-methanol extract. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION: To the best of our knowledge isolation of these potentially medicinal compounds from A. affine was reported for the first time in this study.