Chemical and Biological Evaluation of Some Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The work described in this thesis was undertaken with the purpose of searching for naturally occurring substances of expected biological activity in three medicinal plants, Hypericum laricifolium, Psoralea pubescence and Gustavia longifolia used in traditional medicine as a part of our ongoing project of chemical and pharmacological studies of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine.

Hypericum laricifolium (botanical citation) has been used in traditional medicine against depressant and as diuretic. It has also antifungal properties while Psoralea pubescence has antimicrobial properties. The bark of Gustavia longifolia has been used for maintaining the balance of the digestive functions. The three plants have not been previously investigated chemically or pharmacologically. These results prompted us to investigate these plants.

Through this investigation useful information was derived from the application of chromatographic techniques as SEPARO medium-/ pressure liquid chromatography, column chromatography, 'thin layer chromatography (analytical and preparative), Sephadex LH-20 and high performance liquid chromatography were used for isolation and• purification of the constituents.