title: Foetithiophenes C-F, thiophene derivatives from the roots of Ferula foetida.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ferula foetida Regel (Apiaceae) is an Iranian medicinal plant with various biological activities including antispasmodic and anthelmintic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The sulfur compounds from the roots of F. foetida were isolated and characterized to test their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methanolic extract of the roots of F. foetida was fractionated using silica column chromatography. The components of each fraction were further purified using RP-HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by 1- and 2-D NMR spectroscopy as well as HREIMS. Their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities were evaluated using Alamar Blue assay and broth microdilution method, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four new thiophene derivatives, namely foetithiophenes C-F (3-6), together with four known compounds, foetithiophenes A (1) and B (2), coniferaldehyde, and sinapic aldehyde, were isolated from the roots of F. foetida. Antimicrobial activities were observed in particular against the Gram-positive bacteria. The best antimicrobial activity was observed for compound 6 against B. cereus with a MIC value 50 µg/mL. The tested compounds did not show cytotoxic properties against MCF-7 and K562 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four new thiophene derivatives including foetithiophenes C-F (3-6) were characterized from the roots of F. foetida. Foetithiophene F (6) exhibited the most potent activity against the Gram-positive bacteria B. cereus.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran .
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chitsazian-Yazdi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agnolet
authors.forename: Sybille
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Zarrin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Es'haghi
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kasaian
authors.forename: Bahman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khameneh
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iranshahi
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005309:Ferula; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018517:Plant Roots; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013876:Thiophenes
keywords: Alamar blue; apiaceae; cancer; sulfur-containing compounds