Abstract

A FT-IR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY ON HEARTWOOD OF HOLOPTELEA INTEGRIFOLIA PLANCH

Vinay Kumar Verma*, Anurag Mishra, B. Ram and K. N. Dwivedi

Abstract

Holoptelea integrifolia Planch of Ulmaceae family is an important tree having medicinal properties, commonly known as Chirabilva in India. It is a large, spreading, glabrous, deciduous tree having foul smell in leaves and bark. Heartwood is light yellow, lustrous, interlockedgrained, even-textured, moderately heavy and strong which contains biomolecules like tannins, flavonoids, pigments and phenolic compounds. Chirabilva is described in Lekhaniya and Bhedaniya Mahakashaya of Charaka Samhita indicating its laxative and purgative action. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, wound healing and hypolipidemic activities. It is useful in inflammations, colic, intestinal worms, vomiting, wounds, skin diseases, filariasis, obesity and diabetes mellitus. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) is an absorption spectrum commonly used to detect various functional groups of the sample having specific vibrational frequencies which are like molecular fingerprints. FT-IR analysis revealed absorption bands at 3270 cm–1 may be present due to stretching mode of OH of water / alcohol/flavonoids or tannins. The absorption band at 1646 cm–1 may be due to C=O stretching indicating the presence of carbonyl compounds (aldehyde, ketones, carboxylic acid and esters). The strongest band at 1042 cm-1 is due to CO-O-CO stretching suggesting the presence of compounds having acid anhydride as functional group. A weak absorption peak appearing at 631 cm-1 is due to C-Br stretching showing the presence of halo compounds. Tannins and flavonoids may also be present in the heartwood of Holoptelea integrifolia Planch.

Keywords: Holoptelea integrifolia Planch; Chirabilva; Heartwood; FT-IR Analysis; Tannins; flavonoids.