Discovery of a "novel feruloylated acylglycerol" from Wikstroemia pilosa – Expected to be used as a derivative to improve the solubility of ferulic acid.

A research group led by Professor Wei Li, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, in a joint international study with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, P. R. China, has discovered for the first time that Wikstroemia pilosa, a newly discovered plant resource, contains a novel feruloylated acylglycerol (FAG). Further research is expected to lead to the use of naturally occurring FAGs in a wide range of areas, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods. The results were published on March 30, 2022 in the Journal of Natural Medicines, the official journal of the Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy.

Ms. Koharu Otsuki, Ms. Mi Zhang, Prof. Wei Li, Dr. Takashi Kikuchi

Key points

The discovery of a new FAG from Wikstroemia pilosa (W. pilosa).
The content of the new FAG in ten species of Wikstroemia was determined by high-resolution accurate mass quantitative analysis using a Q-Exactive Orbitrap quadrupole mass spectrometer.

Wikstroemia

Ferulic acid is widely distributed in plant species and is known to have a variety of biological activities, such as UV absorption and antioxidant activities. However, its low solubility in hydro-lipophilic medium limits its use. Feruloylated acylglycerols (FAGs) with a ferulic acid ester bonded to a glycerol skeleton, were the derivatives of ferulic acids which expected to improve the solubility of ferulic acids, but there have been few reports on naturally occurring FAGs, and the detailed distribution of FAGs is unknown. In this study, a research group led by Professor Wei Li of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, in a joint research study with Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in P. R. China, isolated a new FAG, 1-feruloyl-3-hexadecanoyl glycerol, from W. pilosa. The content of 1-feruloyl-3-hexadecanoyl glycerol in ten plants of Wikstroemia species was also determined.

Journal:
Journal of Natural Medicines

Title:
A feruloylated acylglycerol isolated from Wikstroemia pilosa and its distribution in ten plants of Wikstroemia species

Authors:
Mi Zhang, Kouharu Otsuki, Shizuka Kato, Yuito Ikuma, Takashi Kikuchi, Ning Li, Kazuo Koike, Wei Li*

DOI No.
10.1007/s11418-022-01621-6

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