Chemical constituents of the aerial parts of Algerian Galium brunneum: Isolation of new hydroperoxy sterol glucosyl derivatives

The liposoluble extract of Galium brunneum aerial parts from North-eastern Algeria was chemically investigated. The EtOAc soluble portion contained a series of glycosyl cucurbitacins and sterols including three new glucosyl hydroperoxy sterols 1-3 among other phenolic components whereas the BuOH soluble fraction was dominated by glycosyl derivatives of flavonoids, iridoids and lignans, according to the chemistry reported in the literature for the genus Galium. The structure of new oxidized sterols 1-3 was determined by spectroscopic methods as well as by comparison with related known metabolites. Selected main compounds from both extracts, which revealed moderate antibacterial activities, were tested for their growth inhibitory properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This is the first report of cucurbitacins in plants of genus Galium.