A pharmacochemical study of Berula erecta (Huds.) Coville

The plant Berula erecta is ethnopharmaceutically used as a remedy against headache and toothache and is suspected to be responsible for the poisoning of cattle. The aim of this study was to determine the plants pharmacological activity, to isolate the active and other compound(s) inherent to the plant and to elucidate the structures of these compounds. Biological testing of the dried and milled plant material by means of intraperitoneal administration to white rats did not confirm the claimed analgesic or anaesthetic activity. The plant is rich in potassium chloride (.ca 1%) which crystallized in large amounts from the methanol extract. Elemental sulphur was isolated and it appeared that this element was not the product of degradation of glucosinolates or other sulphur containing compounds. A new dialkene, namely 3,6-docosadiene, and a new natural triglyceride, α,α-dilinoloyl-β-palmitoylglycerol, were identified, and purified by means of column and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures were elucidated by one and two-dimensional 1H- and 13C NMR spectrometry as well as high resolution mass spectrometry. Degradation reactions and GC-MS analyses of derivatized products were used to confirm the structures. Comparative paper chromatography proved the presence of sucrose in the methanol extract. The antibacterial activity found may be ascribed to the presence of sulphur, while this element, together with the potassium chloride, could be responsible for the toxicity found after peritoneal administration. Post mortem examinations supported these conclusions. It is, however, unlikely that this plant is responsible for the poisoning of cattle as the concentrations of toxic principles in the plant are far below the toxic dose