Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE LEAVES AND BARK OF WRIGHTIA TINCTORIA R.Br. FROM SOUTH INDIA

Beena Jose*, Jesy E.J.

Abstract

The phytochemical investigation of the leaves and bark of Wrightia tinctoria (Apocynaceae) resulted in the identification of five compounds which include long chain ester, alkyl derivative of Indirubin, long chain hydroxy ester and pinkish oily liquid from leaves and a waxy solid from the bark of the plant. Pinkish oily liquid on GCMS analysis gave 10 compounds, of which 1-methyl-4-(1- methylethenyl)- cyclohexanol acetate (26.5%), Limonene (22.4%), α,α-4-trimethyl-1-methanol-3-Cyclohexene (12.5%) and 1-methyl-4- (1-methylethyl)-1,4-Cyclohexadiene (11.5%) were the major constituents. The waxy solid from the bark petroleum ether extract revealed the presence of 5 compounds n-Butyl laurate (27.8%), Lauric acid n-amyl ester (7.26%), Dodecanoic acid (6.13%), Ethyl citrate (4.57%) and Dodecanoic acid propyl ester (3.88%).

Keywords: Wrightia tinctoria, apocynaceae, phytochemical investigation, GC-MS, indirubin derivative.