Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Ravenea rivularis Family Arecaceae "Palmae"

Abstract

Summary 1. Introduction and literature survey: Family arecaceae, comprises about 215 genera and approximately 2,500 species, among which Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier palm. There is no literature survey of genus Ravenea but there is literature survey of the family arecaceae which showed that it is rich in triterpenes and phenolic compounds with different biological activities. There is no review reported on both the chemistry and biology of Ravenea rivularis. The preliminary phytochemical screening of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier revealed the presence of carbohydrates, triterpenes and/ or sterols, tannins and phenolic compounds and/ or flavonoids. 2. Investigation of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier: The objective of this study is concerned to report the chemistry and biology of Ravenea rivularis. The study is divided into:- Chapter 1: DNA Profiling of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier recently cultivated in Egypt using Random Amplified Polymorphic-DNA (RADP-PCR) Technique. Chapter 2: Investigation of lipoidal matter by using GLC to determine the presence of hydrocarbons and sterols in the leaves of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier. Therefore further investigation of lipoidal matter was carried out to identify the main components. Chapter 3: Phytochemical screening and investigation of the several extracts (n-hexane extract, ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract) of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier, recently cultivated in Egypt. Chapter 4: Biological screening of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier including antioxidant activity General Summary 236 against the stable free radical DPPH, anti-inflammatory activity according to determine the percentage of nitric oxide inhibition and cytotoxic activity against MCF7 (breast carcinoma cell line) and HEPG2 (liver carcinoma cell line). Chapter 1: DNA Profiling of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier cultivated in Egypt using Random Amplified Polymorphic-DNA (RADP-PCR) Technique. The extracted DNA of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier was amplified using ten decamer primers to detect their genetic pattern. The ten primers had successfully directed the amplification of a genome-specific fingerprint of DNA fragments. The ten primers (OPZ-06, OPH-17, OPH- 06, OPH-07, OPQ-07, OPM-15, OPZ-07, OPH-08, OPQ-05, and OPG- 17) of arbitrary sequences generated 59 fragments in Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier. The ten primers had produced multiple band profiles with a number of amplified DNA fragments ranging from 9 when OPQ-05 was used. Whereas, the least number of fragments was 2 being produced by OPZ-07. Therefore primer OPQ-05 was the best sequence for dominating Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier cultivated in Egypt. Chapter 2: Investigation of lipoidal matter in Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier. The lipoidal matter obtained from petroleum ether extract were evaporated to yield (5 gm) representing (0.167 %) of the dried plant material, the residue was kept for preparation of unsaponifiable matter and fatty acids (British pharmacopeia, 1993). GLC analysis of fatty acid methyl esters revealed that Lauric acid (42.07615%) was found to be the main fatty acid, while Linolenic acid (0.96456%) was found to be the least concentration fatty acids. GLC analysis of the unsaponifiable matter of Ravenea rivularis General Summary 237 Jum. and H. Perrier revealed the presence of 23 components. The main hydrocarbon was Heneicosane (16.13006%). Chapter 3: Phytochemical screening and investigation of the several extracts (n-hexane extract, ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract) of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier, recently cultivated in Egypt. Phytochemical screening of the dried leaves of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier; results revealed the phytochemical constituents include flavonoids, sterols and/ or triterpenes, carbohydrates and/ or glycosides, saponins and tannins but no anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, volatile oils or alkaloids. 3.1. Extraction: The dried powdered leaves of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier was macerated in 70% aqueous methanol, concentrated and dried under vacuum, extracted with several solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether (40-60°C), followed by n-hexane, ethyl acetate and finally nbutanol). The each extract was separated and evaporated to dryness. 3.1.1. Phytochemical investigation of the n-hexane extract of the leaves of Ravenea rivularis Jum. and H. Perrier The Phytochemical investigation of the tested extract resulted in the isolation and structural elucidation of two compounds belonging to lupane triterpenoids. Only two main fractions were investigated, these fractions were manipulated through column chromatography for several times leading to the isolation of the individual chemical constituents which were further purified using preparative thin layer chromatography, then identified by 1HNMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectroscopic data after comparison with reported data. Two compounds were individually isolated and identified from the Ravenea rivularis n-hexane extract. Two lupane triterpenoids