Abstract :
The preliminary phytochemical analysis of Ephedra alata indicated the presence of cardiac glycosides, reducing
sugars, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and alkaloids. Ephedra species contain alkaloids ephedrine,
pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, and methylpseudoephedrine. Beside the Etype
alkaloids, ephedroxane, and macrocyclic spermidines called ephedradine A-D, were isolated from some
Ephedra species. The total amount of alkaloids isolated from Ephedra alata aerial parts was 0.2-0.22%. Phenolic
compounds included chlorogenic acid, rutin, catechin, quercetin, coumaric acid, flavonoid (Vicenin II, lucenin III,
kaempferol 3-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-rhamnoside, herbacetin 7-glucoside, herbacetin 8-methyl ether 3-Oglucoside-7-O-rutinoside
and herbacetin 7-O-6″-quinylglucoside) and furanofuran ((±)-syringaresinol,
digalloylglucose, nilocitin, p-coumaric acid) were isolated from Ephedra alata. Ephedra foliata also produced
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The total alkaloids contents of Ephedra foliata (ephedrine and psudoephedrine)
were 0.04-0.2%. Previous pharmacological studies revealed that Ephedra species possessed antimicrobial,
antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and cardiovascular effects. This review discussed the chemical
constituents and pharmacological effects of Ephedra alata and Ephedra foliata.
Keyword :
Ephedra alata, Ephedra foliata, pharmacology, constituents, therapy