A new natural pyrrolone from the Egyptian Ageratum species

Ageratum conyzoides L., is an annual herb with a long history of traditional medicinal uses in many countries in the world, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. A wide range of chemical compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, chromenes, benzofurans and terpenoids have been isolated from this species. Extracts and metabolites from this plant have been found to possess pharmacological and insecticidal activities. In continuation of our interest in the Egyptian medicinal plants, the reinvestigation of the methylenechloride extract of the air-dried aerial parts of Ageratum conyzoides afforded a new natural compound 1, pyrrolone, 5-ethoxy-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-one, together with a known flavonoid. The structures of the compounds were determined by comprehensive NMR studies, including DEPT, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and MS.