Chalepensin
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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 ''Ruta'' (commonly known as rue) is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs, 20–60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. About ten species are accepted in the genus. ...
'' including
common rue ''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of the genus ''Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Mediterranean. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for it ...
(''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 may be the result of toxic effects chalepensin has on the ovaries. 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 Facultative anaerobic organism, facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus (round bacteria, bacterium) commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to dental caries, tooth decay. The m ...
'' and methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'' (MRSA).


Related compounds

Several chemical compounds that have the same core chemical structure as chalepensin 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