Chalepensin is a chemical compound of the
furanocoumarin
The furanocoumarins, or furocoumarins, are a class of organic chemical compounds produced by a variety of plants. Most of the plant species found to contain furanocoumarins belong to a handful of plant families. The families Apiaceae and Rutacea ...
class. Originally isolated in 1967 from
fringed rue (''Ruta chalepensis''), from which it derives its name, it has also been found in other plants of the genus ''
Ruta'' including
common rue
''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of '' Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its blui ...
(''Ruta graveolens'')
and
mountain rue (''Ruta montana'').
Chemical properties
Chalepensin forms colorless crystalline needles with a melting point of 82-83 °C.
Research
Chalepensin has been shown to have antifertility effects in female rats.
[ This antifertility effect may provide some scientific evidence in support of the traditional uses of fringed rue][ and modern use of rue oil (oil from plants of the genus ''Ruta'') in South America as an ]abortifacient
An abortifacient ("that which will cause a miscarriage" from Latin: ''abortus'' "miscarriage" and '' faciens'' "making") is a substance that induces abortion. This is a nonspecific term which may refer to any number of substances or medications, ...
.
Chalepensis has also been shown to have antibacterial activity against ''Streptococcus mutans
''Streptococcus mutans'' is a facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus (round bacterium) commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay.
It is part of the " streptococci" (plural, non-italic lowercase ...
'' and methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'' (MRSA).
Related compounds
Several chemical compounds that have the same core chemical structure as chalepsin are known, including chalepin, rutamarin, 5-methoxychalepensin, and 5,8-dimethoxychalepensin.
File:chalepin.svg, Chalepin
File:rutamarin.svg, Rutamarin
File:5-methoxychalepensin.svg, 5-Methoxychalepensin
File:5,8-Dimethoxychalepensin.svg, 5,8-Dimethoxychalepensin
References
{{reflist
Furanocoumarins