title: Chemical components of the Ephedra major from Iran.
abstract: Ephedra is a dioecious shrub that belongs to the Ephedraceae family of gymnosperms. Almost all commercial applications of Ephedra extracts are derived from the ephedrine alkaloids found in the evergreen stems. The purpose of this study was to compare chemical components (total alkaloid, ephedrine, total phenol, total flavonoid and tannin) of Ephedra major plants during May to October months. The seeds and stems were collected from Bojnoord altitudes in east of Iran. Total alkaloid was separated by solvent and soxhelet extraction method. The results revealed that solvent extraction method is more efficient than soxhelet extraction method. The measurement of chemical components showed significant difference during May to October months. Data from HPLC analysis revealed that while root is depleted of ephedrine, the ephedrine amount in stem organ ranged from 1.50 ± 0.15 to 2.12 ± 0.01 mg/g dry weight. The results indicate that E. major can be as a suitable source of ephedrine.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology , Golestan University, Faculty of Science , Gorgan , Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aghdasi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology , Golestan University, Faculty of Science , Gorgan , Iran.
authors.forename: M Mofid
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bojnoordi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology , Golestan University, Faculty of Science , Gorgan , Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mianabadi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology , Payame Noor University (PNU) , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadaf
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D029789:Ephedra / Q000737:chemistry*; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000032:analysis*; D007492:Iran; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D004809:Ephedrine
keywords: Ephedra major; alkaloid; ephedrine; flavonoid; stem