Organosulfur Compounds Detected in the Genus Aloe Volume 59- Issue 5
Adamu Tizazu* and Abdela Nebi
Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, P.O. Box 32, Mekdela Amba University, Ethiopia
Received: November 29, 2024; Published: December 06, 2024
*Corresponding author: Adamu Tizazu, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, P.O. Box 32, Mekdela
Amba University, Tulu Awuliya, Ethiopia
An organosulfur compound has at least one carbon-sulfur (C-S) bond. All living things’ bodies contain organosulfur
compounds in the form of proteins, peptides, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, coenzymes, hormones, etc.
Numerous plants contain organosulfur compounds, and for centuries, folk and traditional medicines have made
use of their bioactive qualities. Almost all of the compounds detected from Aloe plants are organic compounds
among which some of them are organosulfur compounds. Five organosulfur compounds have been reported
from the genus Aloe. Aloe species have been found to contain thiamine/vitamin B1 (C12H17N4OS+), pluridone
(C12H12O3S), methionine (C5H11NO2S), cysteine (C3H7NO2S), and 1-(phenylthioxomethyl) piperidine (C12H15NS).
The compounds are grouped into various functional groups: sulfide (R-S-R), thiol (R-SH), and thioamide (R=SN).
These compounds have potential biological activities that are used in medicine, food, cosmetics, etc. The biological
activities of organosulfur compounds are the same as those of Aloe species. This agreement shows that organosulfur
compounds have roles in the applications of Aloe species. Therefore, organosulfur compounds from
the genus Aloe are strongly recommended to be tested for their potential biological activities and how to extract,
isolate, and specifically perform structural characterization.
In all organic compounds carbon and hydrogen elements are common
elements [1,2]. However, in addition to carbon and hydrogen, elements
such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, halogens, etc.
present in organic compounds [3,4]. Sulfur is one of the most mentioned
elements in organic compounds [5]. Organosulfur compounds
(OSCs) have at least one carbon-sulfur (C-S) bond [6]. Organosulfur
compounds are subclass of sulfur-containing organic compounds distinguished
by their peculiar characteristics and wide range of occurrence
[7]. All living things’ bodies contain organosulfur compounds
in the form of the protein, peptides, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins,
coenzymes, hormones, etc. [8]. Numerous plants contain organosulfur
compounds, and for centuries, folk and traditional medicines have
made use of their bioactive qualities [9]. Aloe plants are rich in phytochemicals
because they can tolerate hot and dry weather conditions.
Almost all of the compounds detected from the genus Aloe are organic
compounds among which some of them are organosulfur compounds
[10,11]. Phytochemicals containing organosulfur are vital for a variety
of uses in medicine, food, cosmetics, agriculture, and other fields
[12]. Aloe species’ uses are typically described in literature as having
synergistic effects rather than a single effect [13-15]. Nevertheless, no
research has been conducted on the organosulfur compound found
in Aloe species for their potential uses specifically. As a result, the organosulfur
compounds found in Aloe genus are the main topic of this
review.
One of the organosulfur compounds, thiamine has a five-membered
heterocyclic structure with sulfur as the heteroatom in additional
to the nitrogen atom [16] (Figure 1). The genus Aloe has been
found to contain vitamin B1 (C12H17N4OS+) [13]. Like the other vitamins
of B complex, vitamin B1 is a water-soluble vitamin and is also
referred to as thiamine or thiamin [17]. Although thiamine cannot be
produced by the body, it can be obtained as a dietary supplement and
is present in a variety of foods [18]. Thiamine is an essential nutrient
that plays a critical role in energy metabolism which is necessary
for growth, cellular function, and development. It enables the body to
use carbohydrates as energy/fuel [19]. In another way, Aloe species
have been reported for their metabolism actions [20,21]. In addition
to this, Aloe species have been reported for the cell function and development
[22,23]. Therefore, the role of thiamine in the consuming
Aloe-based products is observed as synergistic effect in these biological
activities of Aloe extracts.
Figure 1
Pluridone
Pluridone (C12H12O3S) is an organosulfur compound that has sulfide
(C-S-C) functional group. Pluridone (Figure 2) was isolated from
Aloe pluridens Haw. It is a novel insecticide chemical. In works of literature,
the insecticide activities of Aloe species have been reported
[24-26]. The matching of insecticide activities of Aloe species and pluridone
confirms the presence of pluridone and other bioactive compounds
of the genus Aloe for insecticide application whether individually
or together.
Figure 2
Methionine
Methionine (C5H11NO2S) is an organosulfur compound that has a
sulfide skeleton. One of the essential amino acids, methionine (Figure
3) has been reported from Aloe greatheadii var. davyana quantitatively.
Moreover, many Aloe species have reported methionine [27-29].
Being essential amino acids, methionine has a variety of applications
such as protein biosynthesis, methyl transfer reactions, formation
of polyamines, and synthesis of cysteine and other metabolites [30]
which are revealed in applications of Aloe species.
Figure 3
Cysteine
In addition to methionine, cysteine (C3H7NO2S) has also been reported
from the genus Aloe (Figure 4) [29]. Cysteine is a thiol (C-SH or
R-SH) containing amino acid. It has crucial role for synthesizing sulfur-
containing biomolecules that control multiple essential cellular
activities [31]. Cysteine is applicable for normal growth rate of hair,
reduce the effects of aging on the skin, healing burns and protect the
skin from radiation injury [32-34]. Cysteine also helps the burning of
fat and increase muscle mass [35]. All these applications have been
reported from Aloe species extracts [36-38]. This reflects the role of
cysteine in the Aloe species indirectly.
Figure 4
1-(Phenylthioxomethyl) Piperidine
The organosulfur compound called 1-(phenylthioxomethyl)
piperidine (C12H15NS) (Figure 5) has been detected in Aloe vera [39].
The compound has the amide-like functional group except carbonyl
oxygen is replaced by sulfur. Therefore, it is called thioamide (R=SN)
[40]. The applications of 1-(phenylthioxomethyl) piperidine have not
been reported widely. However, the presence of piperidine, phenyl,
and thioxomethyl groups in the compound may be effective to antimicrobial,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc. [41-43]. For these applications,
Aloe species have been reported. This shows the role of
1-(phenylthioxomethyl) piperidine together with other compounds
[44,45].
Five organosulfur compounds have been reported in the Aloe species.
The detected compounds are neither sulfur element nor sulfur
inorganic compounds. The Organosulfur compounds detected from
the genus Aloe are classified in vitamin (thiamine), amino acids (methionine
and cysteine), and other organic compounds (pluridone and
1-(phenylthioxomethyl)piperidine). These compounds are also classified
based on the organic chemistry functional groups. According to
this classification thiamine, pluridone, and methionine have sulfide
(R-S-R) functional group while Cysteine and 1-(phenylthioxomethyl)
piperidine have thiol (R-SH) and thiomide (R=SN) functional groups
respectively. These compounds have potential biological activities
that are used in medicine, food, cosmetics, etc. The biological activities
of organosulfur compounds reflect the biological activities of
Aloe species. This agreement shows that organosulfur compounds
have roles in the applications of Aloe species. Therefore, it is strongly
recommended to test organosulfur compounds from the genus Aloe
for the potential biological activities and how to extract, isolate, and
structural characterization organosulfur compounds specifically