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Advances in Biological Chemistry, 2014, 4, 160-167
Published Online April 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/abc
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/abc.2014.42020
How to cite this paper: Nono, N.R., et al. (2014) Drymaria cordata (Linn.) Willd (Caryophyllaceae): Ethnobotany, Pharma-
cology and Phytochemistry. Advances in Biological Chemistry, 4, 160-167. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/abc.2014.42020
Drymaria cordata (Linn.) Willd
(Caryophyllaceae): Ethnobotany,
Pharmacology and Phytochemistry
Ngansop Raymond Nono1, Kegah Laurence Nzowa1, Luciano Barboni2*,
Azefack Léon Tapondjou1*
1Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science,
University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
2School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
Email: *tapondjou2001@yahoo.fr, *luciano.barboni@unicam.it
Received 25 February 2014; revised 25 March 2014; accepted 31 March 2014
Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
In the present paper the isolation and characterization of seven major glycolipid classes (stig-
masterol, acylated stigmasteryl glucoside, stigmasteryl glucoside, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol,
digalactosyldiacylglycerol, cerebroside and glucocerebroside) from Drymaria cordata (Linn.)
Willd (Caryophyllaceae Family) are reported after an attempt has been made to congregate the
traditional and pharmacological studies done on this important medicinal plant. Drymaria cordata
is a weak spreading herb found widely dispersed in damp places all over the tropics of Africa, Asia
and the Americas. There are many reports on its folk and traditional uses that include snake bite,
skin diseases, peptic ulcer, headaches or nephritis, female infertility, sleeping disorders, convul-
sions, and febrile conditions in children. The plant has been examined on the basis of scientific in
vitro and in vivo evaluations possessing the major pharmacological activities that include anal-
gesic activity, antitussive activity, anxiolytic activity, antipyretic activity, antinociceptive activity,
anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. The information summarized here is intended to
serve as a reference tool for practitioners in the fields of ethnopharmacology, natural product
chemistry and drug discovery related research.
Keywords
Drymaria cordata; Caryophyllaceae; Stigmasteryl Glucoside; Glyceroglycolipid;
Sphingoglycolipid
*
Corresponding authors.
N. R. Nono et al.
161
1. Introduction
Drymaria cordata (Linn.) Willd. (Caryophyllaceae) is a creeping herb growing in dense patches in moist shady
places and also in dry sun-exposed areas. Stems are green and slender, leaves are opposite, cordate, with short
petiole and the flowers are small and green. It has been noticed that the size of the plant as well as the leaf varies
in different habitats. Leaves of the plants growing in moist and shady places are large up to 2 cm and succulent,
while those growing on exposed rocks and sunny places have thin and smaller leaves up to 5 - 7 mm [1]. The
plant is found widely dispersed in damp places all over the tropics of Africa, Asia and the Americas where its
various uses for agriculture and traditional medicine have been reported [2]-[8]. It appears to be a good soil
binder [1]. The anti-inflammatory [9] [7] [10], antitussive [11], antibacterial [12], cytotoxic [13], anxiolytic [14]
activity, analgesic, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic properties [15]-[17] of Drymaria cordata extract have been
reported. Although several secondary metabolites have been reported from a closely related species, namely
Drymaria diandra [18] [19] and in spite of the different folks and traditional uses of D. cordata coupled to its
broad range of pharmacological activities, only preliminary phytochemical screenings indicating the presence of
some chemical classes of compounds in this plant have been reported [4] [7] [20], and very few is known con-
cerning its real chemical constituents. The present research work is aimed to summarize the ethnobotanical and
pharmacological aspects of D. cordata, and further to proceed on the isolation and chemical characterization of
the phytoconstituents of this plant growing in the western highlands of Cameroon.
2. Ethnobotanical and Traditional Uses of Drymaria cordata
Drymaria cordata has been traditionally used in various parts of the world like Africa, and Asia as folk
medicine. In tropical Africa, its preparations are used for the treatment of diverse ailments including cold,
headache, coryza, bronchitis, as poultice on sore (to treat aching, inflamed or painful parts), leprosy, tumors, as
fumigant for eye troubles, as cerebral stimulant and antifebrile agent [2]. In west Cameroon, the plant is called
“Ton tchikou or Ndougo” (Bangangté) and “Mtokia” (Baham) where it is respectively used to cure peptic ulcer,
headaches or nephritis [5] and female infertility [6]. D. cordata is used in Nigerian folk medicine to treat
sleeping disorders, convulsions, and febrile conditions in children [7]. It has been found that the local tribes
from Garohills and Khasia of Meghalaya, India, use this herb as an antitussive. The herb is kept on some big
leaves, folded, tied and put over fire and the inside material is heated, the vapour is then inhaled for the relief of
cough and sinusitis or in acute cold attack.This herb is also used for snake bite, and is applied topically for burns
and skin diseases [3] [4]. In North East India, the plant has been traditionally used as an antidote, appetizer, de-
purative, emollient, febrifuge, laxative and stimulant in both human and animals [8].
3. Pharmacological Properties of Drymaria cordata
3.1. Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Carrageenan induced paw oedema model in rats and mice, formalin-induced paw licking in mice were used to
evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Drymaria cordata methanolic extract (DCME) at the doses 300 to 900
mg/kg body wt. p.o. in comparison with control and standard drug indomethacin (10 mg/kg body wt. p.o.). The
effect was dose dependent and comparable with the standard drug indomethacin in carrageenan induced paw
oedema in rat and mice. In formalin-induced paw licking model, there was significant reduction in duration of
paw licking in early and late phase as well, thus indicating the anti-inflammatory property of DCME [10].
Furthermore the anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Drymaria cordata (100 - 800 mg/kg) was
also evaluated using the carrageenan, egg albumin, xylene induced oedema models and pleurisy test with
indomethacin (10 mg/kg; p.o.) as standard drug. The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous
extract of Drymaria cordata possesses anti-inflammatory activity mediated possibly by the inhibition of one or a
combination of mediators like histamine, serotonin, kinins and prostaglandins [7].
3.2. Analgesic and Anti-Nociceptive Activities
The acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, and tail clip tests were used to evaluate analgesic activity while the
2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)-, d-amphetamine-, and yeast-induced hyperthermia tests were used to investigate
antipyretic activity in rodents. The aqueous whole plant extract of Drymaria cordata (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg;
N. R. Nono et al.
162
p.o.) produced significant (p < 0.05) analgesic activity in the mouse writhing, formalin (second phase), and tail
clip tests and the effects were generally comparable to those of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/kg; p.o.) and
morphine (2 mg/kg; s.c) [15]. The effect of Drymaria cordata hydroethanolic extract (DCHE) in acetic acid in-
duced writhing model was better than the standard drug indomethacin (10 mg/kg; p.o.). In the hot plate model,
the maximum effect was observed at 60 min at a dose of 200 mg/kg; p.o., which was higher than the standard
drug morphine sulfate (1.5 mg/kg; i.p.), whereas in the tail flick model, effect was comparable with morphine
sulfate. In formalin-induced paw licking model, administration of DCHE completely abolished the early phase
at 100 and 200 mg/kg; p.o. and in the late phase, the effect of DCHE (200 mg/kg; p.o.) was higher than indome-
thacin (10 mg/kg; p.o.) [16].
3.3. Antipyretic Activity
The aqueous whole plant extract of Drymaria cordata (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg; p.o.) produced significant (p <
0.05) dose-dependent inhibition of temperature elevation in the 2,4-DNP and yeast-induced hyperthermia
models with peak effects produced at the dose of 400 mg/kg. The effect at this dose was comparable to that of
acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in the two models. In the d-amphetamine method, this extract produced significant (p
< 0.05) dose- and time-dependent reduction of temperature elevation with peak effect produced at the dose of
200 mg/kg. The effect of the extract at this dose was greater than that of ASA. The results obtained in this study
demonstrate that the aqueous whole plant extract of Drymaria cordata possesses analgesic and antipyretic
properties mediated through peripheral and central mechanisms [15].
3.4. Anti-Bacterial Activity
The aerial parts of different extracts of Drymaria cordata Willd were tested for antibacterial efficacy against
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29737, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Bacillus
pumilis ATCC 14884 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 25619. The methanol extract was found to be the
most effective one and the effects produced by all the extracts were found to have significant activities against
all the tested organisms and the effects so produced were compared with those of chloramphenicol [12].
3.5. Antitussive Activity
The antitussive effect of the methanol extract of D. cordata was investigated on a cough model induced by sul-
fur dioxide gas in mice. The activity of the extract was dose-dependent and comparable to that of codeine phos-
phate, a prototype antitussive agent. The D. cordata extract (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) showed 11.6%, 31.6% and
51.5% inhibition of cough with respect to the control group [11].
3.6. Anxiolytic Activity
Different models for anxiolytic activity like Hole board, Open field, Elevated plus maze, Light/dark exploration
model were used to evaluate the effect of Drymaria cordata hydroethanolic extract (DCHE) administered at 25,
50, and 100 mg/kg (p.o.). In the hole board model, there was dose-dependent and significant increase in the
numbers of head pokes and the time of head dipping in the treated groups in comparison to the vehicle. In open
field test, the number of rearing assisted rearing and numbers of squares traversed increased significantly. Simi-
larly, in elevated plus maze test, there was significant increase in the time spent and number of entries in open
arm as compared to the time spent and number of entries in closed arm in dose dependent manner. In light/dark
exploration test, another model for anxiolytic activity, the time spent in lit box, number of crossing and the la-
tency period increased significantly with reduction in time spent in dark box after treatment with DCHE. It
could therefore be concluded that the DCHE might affect certain mediators to reduce anxiety [14].
3.7. Cytotoxic Activity
The cytotoxic effect of Drymaria cordata hydroethanolic extract on HeLa (cervix adenocarcinoma) cell line was
determined using a modification [21] of the MTT assay [22]. It was potentially cytotoxic showing over 50% ac-
tivity at 500 µg/ml [13]. Moreover one anti leukemic compound (C17H22O2) which is effective as inhibitory to
primary cultures of human encomia cells has been isolated from this plant [4].
N. R. Nono et al.
163
4. Phytochemical Study
4.1. Experimental
4.1.1. Plant Materials
The fresh aerial parts of D. cordata were collected in Bangoua village, near Bangangté (West Cameroon) in No-
vember 2010 and identified by Mr Victor Nana at the National Herbarium of Cameroon; Yaoundé, Cameroon by
comparison to an existing voucher specimen (N˚ 20550/SRF/CAM).
4.1.2. Extraction and Isolation
The dried and pulverized plant material (3 kg) was extracted at room temperature three times (each for 24 h)
with MeOH (95%). The filtrate obtained was concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a dark residual solu-
tion (372 g). This solution was constituted by two main phases, an oily upper phase (18 g) and a brown residue
(350 g) and these two phases were separated by decantation. Part of the brown residue (120 g) was suspended in
water (250 ml) and successively extracted with EtOAc and n-BuOH, yielding 63.4 and 11 g of extracts after
evaporation to dryness, respectively. One part of the EtOAc extract (53 g) and the n-BuOH extract were sub-
jected to silica gel column chromatography using the mixture Hex-EtOAc in increase polarity for the EtOAc ex-
tract, and EtOAc-MeOH in increase polarity for the n-BuOH extract to yield compound 1 (7 mg), 2 (14 mg), 3
(10 mg), 4 (50 mg), 5 (180 mg), 6 (6 mg) and 7 (8 mg). The oily upper phase was mainly constituted of phenol-
ics as revealed from visualization of TLC on UV lamps (254 and 365 nm) follow by spraying with 50% H2SO4,
and their purification has been unsuccessful.
5. General Experimental Procedure
ESI mass spectra were carried out on an Agilent Technologies LC/MSD Trap SL (G2445D SL). 1H NMR, 13C
NMR, COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectra were performed in deuterated MeOH, CHCl3, Acetone, on a varian
Mercury plus Spectrometer (400 MHz for 1H and 100 MHz for 13C). Column chromatography was performed on
silica gel (60 merck) and sephadex gel (LH-20). Fractions were monitored by TLC using Merck pre-coated sili-
ca gel sheets (60 F254), and spots were visualized under UV lamps (254 and 365 nm) and by spraying with 50%
H2SO4 and heating at 110˚C.
Methanolysis of Compound 5
Compound 5 (20 mg) was refluxed with 0.9 N HCl in 82% aqueous MeOH (10 mL) for 18 h [23]. The resulting
solution was extracted with n-hexane. The n-hexane layer was dried with Nitrogen to give the fatty acid methyl
ester (5’) which was analyzed by GC.
6. Results
Identification of Purified Compounds
The identification of compounds 1-7 was proposed from their spectral data mainly 1D and 2D NMR techniques
(1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HMBC, HMQC and NOESY) and by comparison with literature data as: 24-ethyl-cho-
lesta-5,22E-diene (Stigmasterol) (1) [23], [(2S,3S,4R,8E)-2N-[(2’)-2’-hydroxylpentaeicosanoyl]-8(E)-tetraeico-
sanoyl-1,3,4-triol] (2) [24], 24-ethyl-cholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-O-β-D-pyranoglucosyl-6’-O-palmitate (3) [23], 24-
ethyl-cholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-O-β-D-pyranoglucosyle (4) [23], (2S,3R,4E,8E,2’R)-1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-
(2-hydroxypalmitoyl)-amino-4,8-octadecadien-1,3-diol (5) [24], monogalactopyranosyldiacylglycerol (6) and
digalactopyranosyldiacyglycerol (7) [25] [26] (Figure 1).
7. Discussion
In all, seven secondary metabolites mainly belonging to glycolipid chemical group and including one ceramide,
one cerebroside, tree stigmasterol derivatives and two galactosyl-di-acyl-glyceride derivatives have isolated and
characterized from this plant. This chemical composition is quite close to that of the red Bell Pepper (Capsicum
annuum) [26]. Edible plant glycolipids are believed to play a role in human diet as nutrients. The average daily
intake of glycolipids in humans has been reported to be 140 mg of acylated steryl glucoside, 65 mg of steryl
N. R. Nono et al.
164
1234
8
9
(CH
2
)
13
1'
(CH
2
)
20
O
HO
OH
OH
OH
2
HN
1235
8
9
HO
7
O
O
1''
HO
HO OH
OH
O
OH
10
O
O
HO
H
3
C
methanolyse
5'
5
1'
35
10
1
6
8
11 17
22
23
24
RO
ββ
β
β
O
1'
OH
HO
O
OH
3
2
1
O
O
1'a
R
2
O
1a
R
1
O
6
OH
3
2
1
O
O
1'
HO
HO
O
OH
O
O
1''
OH
HO OH
OH
O
1a
R
1
1'a
R
2
O
O
7
1 R= H
3 R= 3 -O- -D-glucopyranosyl-6'-O-palmitate
4 R= 3 -O- -D-glucopyranoside
HN
Figure 1. Structures of Stigmasterol (1), cerebroside (2), acylated stigmasteryl glucoside (3), stigmasteryl glu-
coside (4), glucocerebroside (5), monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (6) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (7) isolated
from the aerial parts of Drymaria cordata.
glucoside, 50 mg of cerebroside, 90 mg of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and 220 mg of digalactosyldiacyl-
glycerol [27]. Aerial parts of D. cordata appear to be a rich source of such glycolipids.
Moreover literature survey shows that Glycolipids have been implicated in cell development, differentiation,
and carcinogenic transformation [28]. Ceramide plays the role of a lipid second messenger in cell signaling
transductions [29]-[31] such as cell growth, differentiation [32], proliferation [33], senescence [34] and necrosis
[35]. In recent years several different types of biological activities have been found for these compounds, in-
cluding antifungal, antitumor, antiviral, cytotoxicity and immunomodulatory properties, anti-inflammatory and
anti-microbial activities [36] [37]. Stigmasterol possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities [38]. One
or a combination of the phytoconstituents of D. cordata may be responsible for its different activities observedin
N. R. Nono et al.
165
this study, especially as synergy is an important concept in the pharmacology of phytochemicals of botanical
medicines [39]. Furthermore Previous study reported the safety of oral administration of the aqueous extract of
D. cordata based on the fact that no mortality and visible signs of toxicity were recorded on rats given up to 2
g/kg. The LD50 administered intraperitoneally was estimated to be 133.35 mg/kg [7].
Knowing that plant species such as Ginkgo biloba, Salvia officinalis and Melissa officinalis which have cur-
rently being used for the management of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders usually cumulate
plethora of relevant bioactivities [40] [41], D. cordata extracts could be good candidates against such diseases.
8. Spectroscopic Data of Isolated Compounds
24-ethyl-cholesta-5,22E-diene (Stigmasterol) (1): White powder; 13C (Acetone-d6) δ 30.7 (C2); 71.2 (C3);
140.6 (C5); 118.7 (C6); 35.4 (C7); 31.6 (C8); 51.2 (C9); 21.4 (C11); 39.4 (C12); 42.0 (C14); 56.1 (C17); 139.5 (C22);
130.7 (C23); 50.9 (C24).
[(2S,3S,4R,8E)-2N-[(2’)-2’-hydroxylpentaeicosanoyl]-8(E)-tetraeicosanoyl-1, 3, 4-triol] (2): White crystal;
ESI-MS (positive mode): m/z 682 [M + H]+, 399 [C24H48NO3 + H]+ in negative-ion mode, we observed a peak
ion mass m/z 680 [M-H]−, m/z 716 [M + Cl]−. 13C (MeOH-d4) δ 60.7 (C1); 51.7 (C2); 74.5 (C3); 72.0 (C4); 31.4
(C5); 29.2 (C6); 32.2 (C7); 130.0 (C8); 130.0 (C9); 32.2 (C10); 28.8 - 31.5 (C11-23); 12.5 (C24); 188.6 (C1’); 71.6
(C2’); 31.7 (C3’); 34.3 - 28 (C4’-24’); 12.5 (C25’).
24-ethyl-cholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-O-β-D-pyranoglucosyl-6’-O-palmitate (3): ESIMS (negative-ion mode)
m/z 847 [M + Cl]−, 13C (MeOH-d4) δ 37.1 (C1); 31.4 (C2); 78.2 (C3); 42.3 (C4); 139.0 (C5); 117.0 (C6); 31.4 (C7);
31 (C8); 49.2 (C9); 36.0 (C10); 21.0 (C11); 39.7 (C12); 43.8 (C13); 56.0 (C14); 24.8 (C15); 28.4 (C16); 56.0 (C17);
11.1 (C18); 21.2 (C19); 40.5 (C20); 21.4 (C21); 138.4 (C22); 129.6 (C23); 49.1 (C24); 31.4 (C25); 21.2 (C26); 20.0
(C27); 25.0 (C28); 12.0 (C29); 101.2 (C1’); 73.6 (C2’); 76.7 (C3’); 70.7 (C4’); 73.6 (C5’); 63.4 (C6’).
24-ethyl-cholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-O-β-D-glucopyranosyle (4): identified by co-TLC comparison with an au-
thentic sample available in the laboratory.
(2S,3R,4E,8E,2’R)-1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-(2-hydroxypalmitoyl)-amino-4,8-octadecadien-1,3-diol (5):
White amorphous powder. ESIMS (negative-ion mode) m/z 712.7 [M-H]−, m/z 550 [M-162]−, m/z 463
[M-162-18-70]−, 13C (MeOH-d4) δ 68.3 (C1); 53.1 (C2); 71.37 (C3); 133.0 (C4); 133.0 (C5); 32.0 (C6); 32.4 (C7);
133.5 (C8); 129.4 (C9); 32.7 (C10); 30.32 - 30.86 (C11-17); 14.4 (C18); 177.3 (C1’); 71.6 (C2’); 23.7-33.3 (C3’-15’);
14.4 (C16’); Sugar moiety: δ 103.8 (C1); 73.6 (C2); 76.0 (C3); 70.0 (C4); 76.0 (C5); 61.2 (C6).
Compound 5’: White amorphous powder: GC, the retention time (tR) of the peak was 15.202 min for fatty
acid methyl ester, thus it was then identified as 2-hydroxy hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (5’).
monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (6): ESIMS (negative ion mode) m/z 793 [M-H]−. 13C (MeOH-d4) Glycerol:
62.6 (C1); 69.4 (C2); 63.2 (C3). Galactosyl moiety: 98.4 (C1’); 73.6 (C2’); 72.0 (C3’); 73.6 (C4’); 68.8 (C5’); 52.8
(C6’). Acid moiety: 173.6 (C1a-1’a).
digalactosyldiacylglycerol (7): ESIMS (negative ion mode) m/z 823 [M-H]−, 210.9 [C14H27O]−, 636
[C21H75O14]−, and in positive ion mode m/z 847 [M+Na]+, 499 [CH2(OCOR1)CH(COCOR2)CH2OH]+ diacylgly-
cerol, 303 [CH2(OH)CH(OCOR1)CH2O]+ monoacylglycerol. 13C (MeOH-d4) Glycerol: 63.9 (C1); 71.5 (C2);
68.7 (C3). Acid moiety: 174.7 and 175.0 (C1a or 1’a). Galactosyl moiety: 105.1 (C1’); 72.2 (C2’); 74.7 (C3’); 71.1
(C4’); 74.7 (C5’); 67.7 (C6’); 100.4 (C1’’); 70.2 (C2’’); 74.7 (C3’’); 70.0 (C4’’); 74.7 (5’’); 62.6 (C6’’).
Acknowledgements
This research work was supported by the IFS (International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, Sweden) pro-
gram through grant to Prof. A. Léon TAPONDJOU (RGA No. F/3976-3F) and the Italian Ministry of Education
(MIUR) for the financial support (COOPERLINK 2011 Prot. CII113PPUC).
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