Phytochemical Investigations of the Medicinal Plant Swertia Chirata Ham Mst
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nalytic A al & B y i tr o s c i h e Sultana and Ahmed, Biochem Anal Biochem 2013, 2:4 m m e Biochemistry & i h s c t r o DOI: 10.4172/2161-1009.1000145 i y B ISSN: 2161-1009 Analytical Biochemistry Research Article Open Access Phytochemical Investigations of the Medicinal Plant Swertia Chirata Ham Mst. Jesmin Sultana1* and Fazle Rabbi Shakil Ahmed2 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh 2Department of Pharmacy, Rajshahi Science and Technology University, Natore, Bangladesh Abstract The fresh stem of the plant Swertia chirata Ham was extracted by rectified spirit. The crude rectified spirit extract was fractionated by using standard chromatographic techniques, on alumina gave several fractions (A, B, C, D, E and F). Fraction D, when subjected to column chromatographic analysis on neutral alumina, yielded a compound, tentatively known as compound AJ-1 m.p. 178°C. In this research work only one compound is isolated. From the spectral evidences, the compound is an alkaloid containing 37 carbon atoms with 52 hydrogen along with secondary or tertiary nitrogen and several OH groups in the molecule. The pure compound AJ-1 has found antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and other different bioactivity tests can be performed for the pure compounds AJ-1.The plant is being used as flok medicine in the treatment of diabetes, jaundice and skin diseases. Keywords: Gentianaceae; Swertia chirata Ham; Spectral foxglove [12] consisting of digitalis glycosides is cardiotonic for man. characteristics; Pure Compound AJ-1 The root bark of Mexican yam [13] is used in making cortisone and other steroidal drugs. Salicylic acid [14] isolated from willow bark has Introduction a variety of pharmacological effects on platelet aggregation, pain and immune system. Artemisinin, a new antimalarial from Chinese herbal Natural product chemistry is an ancient science. Different medicinal compounds such as antitumor, anticancer, anti AIDS etc were isolated medicine [15]. from natural plants. Isolation of any compound from any plants is un- The plant under investigation is Swertia chirata Ham which belongs certain. None can assure it before investigation. But generally second- to the family Gentianaceae. The Gentianaceae is a tropical family of ary metabolites are obtained by proper investigation. Plants are unique small trees, herb and bitter tonic. It consists of 180 species. About 8-10 in their ability to synthesize fats, carbohydrates, proteins that constitute species exist in India [16]. This plant is indigenous to temperature Hi- three major food classes for human race [1]. The array of medicines malayas at altitudes above 4000 feet from Kashmir, Nepal and Bhutan derived from them is impressive and includes hypotensive drugs. an- [17]. In this family all plants are use as medicine. In the present inves- algesics, anaesthetics, anticancer and antiparasitic compounds, anti- tigation the plant Swertia chirata Ham was selected for phytochemical inflammatory drugs, steroids, laxatives, diuretics and many others [2]. and biological studies. Theophrastus [3] a student of plato, in his historia plantarum described The plant Swertia chirata (Family: Gentianaceae) Ham was chosen the use of nearly 500 medicinal plants. A vast compilation of ancient for investigation since it has a folkloric reputation. So far literature sur- knowledge of medicinal plant, can be seen in the natural history of pliny veyed, Swertia chirata Ham has tremendous uses in traditional medi- [4], the famous Roman physician. The Chinese Emperor Shen Nung cines. It has anti-microbial activity against Gram positive and Gram (3000 BC) [5] compiled a treatise on medicinal plants. The medicinal negative bacteria. All the plant are used as astringent, unani-tonic to plants that have been used since ancient time, many have yielded most heart, liver, eyes, cough, scanty-urine, melancholia, dropsy, sciatia, skin useful drugs that are very much in use in current medicine. Such as- diseases, the plant is used as a bitter tonic in gastrointestinal disorders, The most important natural analgesic, morphine [6] was isolated from like dyspepsia/anorexia, it is used as digestive, febrifuge and laxative. opium poppy (latex of Papaver somniferum fruit). Quinine [6], an anti- It is used to prevent malaria, particularly useful in fever. The plant is malarial alkaloid, was isolated from cinchona bark (Cinchona succiru- also effective against intestinal worms burning of the body, bronchial bra) which was used by the South Americans and the Indians. Emetine asthma, regulating the bowels [18] (Figure 1). [7], which is considered as an important medicine for amoebiasis, is the main alkaloid obtained from the root of ipecacuanha (Cephaelis ipeca- Materials and Methods cuanha) was used in Brazil and Far east for dysentery and diarrhoea. Dried stem of Swertia chirata Ham (Locally known as chirata) were Reserpine [8], used as a hypotensive drug and tranquilizer was isolated collected from Bhangura Kabiraji Shop of Rajshahi Shaheb Bazar. The from the plant Rauwolfia serpentia, considered to be a common remedy stems of the plant were cut into small pieces by a sharp knife. About 650 for mental illness and snake bite in the Indian sub continent. Broncho- dilating effect of ephedrine from Ephedra vulgaris [6]. Curare used as arrow poison by the South American natives has *Corresponding author: Mst. Jesmin Sultana, Department of Materials now given as tubocurarine [9], a quaternary alkaloid now being used Science and Engineering, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Tel: 8801818401313; E-mail: [email protected] as an adjunct to anesthesia for surgery. Anti-spasmodic effect of atro- pine [6], from Atropa belladona. Analeptic effect of strychnine [6] from Received November 27, 2013; Accepted December 07, 2013; Published Nux vomica and pelletierine, from pomegranate. Antileprotic effect of December 10, 2013 chaulmoogra fruit [6] was well known to the ancient Indians. At pres- Citation: Sultana MJ, Ahmed FRS (2013) Phytochemical Investigations of ent thousands of plant metabolites are also now being successfully used the Medicinal Plant Swertia Chirata Ham. Biochem Anal Biochem 2: 145. doi: 10.4172/2161-1009.1000145 in the treatment of a variety of diseases. A few striking examples of plant metabolites are as follow: Taxol [10], from Taxus brevifolia, Vin- Copyright: © 2013 Sultana MJ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits cristine [11] and Vinblastine [11] from Vinca rosea Linn. (Periwink unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the Plant), all of which are important anticancer drugs. Arrow poison of original author and source are credited. Biochem Anal Biochem ISSN: 2161-1009 Biochem, an open access journal Volume 2 • Issue 4 • 1000145 Citation: Sultana MJ, Ahmed FRS (2013) Phytochemical Investigations of the Medicinal Plant Swertia Chirata Ham. Biochem Anal Biochem 2: 145. doi: 10.4172/2161-1009.1000145 Page 2 of 7 It contained a mixture of compounds. In this chapter, an attempt was made to isolate the individual compounds. TLC examination of rectified spirit extract, petroleum ether: ethyl acetate (1:2) showed 3 spots of Rf values 0.1, 0.54 and 0.73, respectively. The crude rectified spirit extract was subjected to an alumina column for fractionation. The column containing 10 gm of alumina was prepared as described before. Crude extract (2.5 gm) for the purpose was mixed with a little rectified spirit in a morter to get a free following mass. The sample was then placed carefully on the top of the prepared column and was successively eluted with n-hexane, n-hexane with increasing portions of petroleum ether; ethyl acetate and finally with methanol (Table 1). A number of colour bands were observed during the development of the column. The subsequent eluants were collected in 100 ml beakers (Table 2). Figure 1: Swertia chirata: a, plant in vegetative phase; b, A 2ft tall plant before Examination of the combined fractions flowering; c, Flowering twig; d, Flowering panicle during seed set; e, Single tetramerous flower; f, Root of a mature two year-old plant. Fraction A: Fraction A gave no spot on TLC examination and was discarded. Amount of solvent No. of collected Fraction B: The residue (35 mg) from fraction B did not give any Eluants (in ml) beakers discrete spot with different solvent system and tailed badly and was not 100% n-hexane 300 1-3 worked out further. 25% Petroleum ether in hexane 100 4 Fraction C: The fraction showed two spots on the TLC, placed 50% Petroleum ether in hexane 100 5 with solvent system n-Hexane: Ethyl acetate (3:1). The spots were pink 100% Petroleum ether 200 6-7 in color under UV light. The band were contains R value=0.67 and 2.5% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 100 8 f 5% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 300 9-11 0.583, respectively. The residue from fraction C was subjected to a small 7.5% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 100 12 chromatographic column fitted with a cotton-plug, using Ethyl acetate: 10% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 300 13-15 Toluene (1:4). The two eluants were collected and evaporated to get 12.5% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 100 16 small amount of compounds C1 and C2. The compounds 1C and C2 were 15% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 100 17 insufficient quantities and were not worked out further. 20% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 100 18 Fraction D: The fraction showed two spots (Rf=0.53 and 0.73) on 25% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 100 19 TLC plate using the solvent system Petroleum ether: Ethyl acetate (1:2). 30% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 200 20-21 The spot having R =0.73 showed a violet fluorescence under UV light 40% Ethyl acetate in petroleum ether 100 22 f and yellowish spot in iodine vapour.