Chemical Composition of Croton Macrostacrys
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Date
1981
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Publisher
Addis Ababa
Abstract
The root- bark powder of Croton macrostachys Hochstex. A.
Rich . (Euphorheaceae) ( n nCj') , used in Ethiopia for curing
spreading wounds, was extraced 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 ; l) into be autiful needle aggregates,
the structure of which was identified , using I R, PHR and MS
data , to be that of lupeol , aknown antitumor agent. The
tumor inhibitor y compound Crotepoxide which was previously
isolated from the fruits could not be detecte in t he rootbark
extract. Preliminary investigation also showed the
presence of trace solids B and C having the same Rf on TLC.
B was water isoluble white solid while C was water soluble
and showed strong blue fluorescence unde r UV- I amp. The
presence of quaternary alkaloid was also confirmed in the
root- bark .