title: Isolation and Quantification of Pinitol, a Bioactive Cyclitol, in Retama spp.
abstract: The genus Retama (Fabaceae) is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region. In the present study, pinitol (3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol), an anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic molecule, was isolated from aerial parts of R. monosperma, and its structure established on the basis of spectroscopic techniques (1D/2D NMR) and MS. Identification and quantification of pinitol in R. raetam and R. sphaerocarpa were also performed. R. monosperma had the highest concentration of pinitol (2.3%). The presence of pinitol in aqueous extracts of Retama spp. may explain the adaptation of these plants to drought and salinity. Furthermore, pinitol could be considered as a mediator in the anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic activities of Retama spp., which are traditionally used to treat diabetes.
authors.forename: Nuria H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: González-Mauraza
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: León-González
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Espartero
authors.forename: Juan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gallego-Fernández
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Hidalgo
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin-Cordero
mesh_terms: D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D007294:Inositol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: C021730:pinitol; D007294:Inositol