title: A new mulinane diterpenoid from the cushion shrub Azorella compacta growing in Perú.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Azorella compacta is a rare yellow-green compact resinous cushion shrub growing from the high Andes of southern Perú to northwestern Argentina, and which is a producer of biologically active and unique diterpenoids.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the secondary metabolites present in a Peruvian sample of Azorella compacta and the evaluation of gastroprotective activity of the isolated compounds in a gastric- induced ulcer model in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six secondary metabolites (diterpenoids 1-6) present in the dichloromethane (DCM) extract of A. compacta growing in Perú were isolated by a combination of Sephadex LH-20 permeation and silica gel chromatography and their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (NMR) and molecular modeling. The gastroprotective activity of the new compound 1 was evaluated on the HCl/EtOH-induced gastric lesion model in mice and compared to the activity showed by the known compounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A new mulinane diterpene along with five known diterpenoids have been isolated from a Peruvian sample of A. compacta and the gastroprotective results show that compound 1 is less active than the other known mulinane diterpenoids isolated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. compacta growing in Perú showed the presence of the new mulinane 1, which was poorly active in the HCl/EtOH-induced gastric lesion model in mice. Indeed, the activity was lower than other diterpenoids (2-6) showing an oxygenated function at C-16 or/and C-20, which confirm the role of an oxygenated group (OH or carboxylic acid) for the gastroprotective activity of mulinane compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Areche
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Andres Bello, Quillota 980, Viña del Mar, Chile.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Natural Products, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Antofagasta, Casilla 170, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: Mario J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Simirgiotis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Biological and Agricultural, National University of San Agustin, Arequipa, Peru.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cáceres
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, Institute of Natural Resources, University of Talca, Talca, Chile.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quispe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Unit of Post-graduate School of Natural and Formal Sciences, National University of San Agustin, Arequipa, Peru.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quispe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Unit of Post-graduate School of Natural and Formal Sciences, National University of San Agustin, Arequipa, Peru.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cano
keywords: Apiaceae; azorella compacta; diterpenoids; gastroprotective activity; mulinanes