ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CYCLOEUCALENOL TRANSFERULATE FROM LEAVES OF Euphorbia tithymaloides

Abstract

The latex, leaves, stems, and roots of Euphorbia tithymaloides (Euphorbiaceae) have traditionally been used to treat earaches, insect stings, ringworm, toothaches, skin cancer, umbilical hernia, and warts. Approximately 1 kg of the pulverized leaves was macerated successively with hexane and ethyl acetate, and resultant Crude extracts were phytochemically screened using standard established procedures. Ethyl acetate extract was loaded onto a column containing slurry of silica gel. Gradients of hexane in ethyl acetate mobile phase were used to elute the column, affording a total of 130 fractions. Fractions 41-47 gave tiny deposit on evaporation labelled UMPT (m.p: 269-270 oC).Their thin layer chromatography gave a single spot of Rf 0.61.These were combined and labelled UMPT44. Phytochemical screening of UMPT44 gave positive test for phenols and triterpenoids. Antimicrobial screening of UMPT44 showed that it was active against some fungi and bacteria. The zone of inhibition measured 30 mm when tested against Coniophora puteana, 29 mm against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 27 mm against Salmonella typhi, and 26 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Escherichia coli. Additionally, there was a 25 mm zone of inhibition against Serpula lacrymans. The determination of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration indicated that UMPT44 holds promise as a potential antimicrobial agent. Based on evaluation of NMR spectral data and comparison with literature reports, UMPT44 was identified as cycloeucalenol transferulate. This is the first time this compound is isolated from the plant