Scparation and identification of active constituents from some medicinal plants used in non traditional medicine

Abstract

The work described in this thesis was undertaken with the purpose of searching for naturally occurring substances of expected biological activity in two medicinal plants, Vismia confertiflora and Chelonanthus alatus, used in traditional medicine as a part of out starting programme of chemical and pharmacological studies of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine.

Vismia confertiflora has been used in traditional medicine against skin diseases and as a diuretic. It has also antifungal properties while Chelonanthus alatus, has been used in traditional medicine for curing stomach troubles. Also, dried and pulverized leaves and flowers are used in clothing to ward off insects. The two plants have not been investigated previously. These results prompted us to investigate the plants chemically and pharmacologically.

Through this investigation useful information was derived from the application of chromatographic techniques as column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 for isolation and purification of the constituents.

Spectroscopic techniques: 'H NMR, IC NMR, DEPT, 'H-IH COSY, IH-1C COSY, mass spectra, GC - MS as well as chemical transformations used for identification and structural elucidation of the isolated compounds.