Chemical studies on the leaves of Anthamul ( Tylophora indica)

Abstract

Tylophora indica Syn. Tylophora asthmatica of the family Aselepiadaeeae grow abundantly all over Bangladesh and India. In Bangladesh it is popularly known as "Anthamul". It is an important medicinal plant of our country and is used for the treatment of several diseases specially for the treatment of asthma, dysentery and . 12-15 emesIs A review on the phytochemical investigations on the herb revealed that along with other compounds, quite a large number of alkaloidal eompounds2o - 25 have been isolated from its roots, stems and aerial parts. But in comparison to the work on its stems and roots, little work has been done on its leaves. As root, stem and aerial parts of the plant contained alkaloids, it is quite logical that its leaves should also contain alkaloids amongst other compounds. Alkaloids being physiologically active compounds, our main objective was to isolate, separate and purify alkaloidal compounds from the leaves of anthamul and to determine the molecular architecture of the isolated alkaloids along with other compounds isolated. The herb Tindica was cultivated in the Club premises of the Bangladesh University of engineering and Technology (BUET). The leaves were collected, dried in the shade and grinded into powder for the purpose of the experiment. The powder obtained was successively extracted with Pet. ether, EtOAc and MeaI-!. Separation and fractionation followed by chromatographic analyses of the EtOAc extract REA resulted into the isolation of the three pure compounds EA-2 EA-3 and EA-4. Fractionation followed by purification of the various extracts enable us to isolate the pure compound A5 from methanol extract, ME. All the four compounds responded to the usual color reactions of alkaloids showing that they are alkaloidal in nature. all the basis of IR, IE-nmr, llC-11Illl"spectral analyses, the molecular formula of the compound EA-2 was found as C29I-I480..'3C-nmr spectral data of the compound EA-2 was in full agreement with the published data of the stigmasterol31.Thus on the basis of the chemical and spectral analyses, tentatively the following structure (20) may be assigned for the compound EA-2 and it can be named as Stigmastan-5,22-di-ene-3(3- 01 in comparison with the established structure (19) of the compound Stigmastan- 7,22-di-ene-3(3-01. Thus the compound EA-2 is a sterol......................