Chemical Composition of Croton Macrostachys
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Date
1981-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
The root~·bark powder of Croton macrostachys Hochstex. A.
Rich. (Euphorbeaceae) (ብሳና), used in Ethiopia for curing
spreading wounds, was extracted with diethyl ether. The crude
extract, on fractionation by column chromatography (Silica gel)
yielded a major solid compound A (mp 210'-212o) crystallizable
from acetone~methanol (9:1) into beautiful needle aggregates,
the structure of -Ihich was identifted, using IR, PMR and MS
data, to be that of lupeol, a known antitumor agent. The
tumor inhibitory compound Crot-poxide which was previously
isolated from the fruits could not be detected in the root~
bark extract. Preliminary investigation also showed the
presence of trace solids Band C having the same Rf on TLC.
B was water isoluble \.,hi te solid while C was water soluble
and sho~led strong blue fluorescence under UV-lamp. The
presence of quaternary alkaloid was also confirmed in the
root-bark.
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Keywords
Croton Macrostachys