New constituents of Artemisia monosperma Del.

Phytochemical investigation of air-dried powdered roots of Artemisia monosperma growing in Egypt afforded two new compounds; 6-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxycoumarin (I) and 5-acetyl-2-[1'-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan (IV), in addition to the known compounds; 6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (fraxinol) (II), 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (tomentin) (III) and methyl-beta-D-fructofuranoside (V), obtained for the first time from the plant. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were assigned based on different physical, chemical and spectroscopic techniques including UV, IR, MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra. Furthermore, antimicrobial activity of different extracts of roots was carried out.

Astragalosides from Egyptian Astragalus spinosus Vahl.

Four cycloartane triterpene oligoglycosides were isolated from the n-butanol extract of the aerial parts of Astragalus spinosus Vahl. (Leguminosae). They were identified as astragaloside I (1), isoastragaloside I (2), astragaloside IV (4) and cycloastragenol 6-O-glucoside (5) on the basis of comparing their m.p.'s, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra and chromatographic patterns with the data given in the literature. The results of AIDS antiviral and antitumor screening of the major component, astragaloside II (3), are dealt with.