ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS FROM INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANT HETEROPHRAGMA QUADRILOCULARE K SCHUM

Abstract

Heterophragma quadriloculare K. Schum. (HQ) is a representative of Heterophragma newlinegenus of Bignoneace family and known as Warras. Part of this plant is traditionally newlineused in folk medicine as anti-diabetic. Since, scientific documentation is not well newlineavailable it was thought of interest to develop scientific database for HQ leaves. With newlinethis respect morphology, microscopy and proximate study has been performed in newlineorder to establish quality control parameter as per WHO guideline. Antidiabetic newlineactivity of HQ leaves has been evaluated by In vivo screening of different extracts of newlineleaves for oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in normal rats followed by In vivo newlinescreening of different extracts of leaves for anti-diabetic activity in streptozotocin newline(STZ) nicotinamide (NAD) induced type-II diabetic rat. We have also attempted newlinequalitative and quantitative evaluation of various phytochemicals from HQ leaves. newlineCarbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, fats, alkaloids, steroidal compounds and newlineterpenoids were found in HQ leaves. By HPTLC method, 0.50 % and 0.93 % w/w of newlinelupeol and ursolic acid have been observed in HQ leaves respectively. HQ leaves newlinehave also been found to contain 3.14 %, 4.03 % and 4.09 % w/w of tannins, phenolics newlineand flavonoids respectively. In OGTT study though all extracts found to reduce blood newlineglucose level, petroleum ether extract showed dose dependent activity. These newlineresults provided the clue for presence of anti-diabetic constituents in petroleum newlineether extract. Oral administration of unsaponifiable fraction of petroleum ether newlineextract (UPEHQ) at the dose of 100 mg/kg resulted in significant weight gain, newlinereduction of blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum VLDL and triglycerides in newlinediabetic rats as compared to diabetic control rats. The present study thus justified newlinethe traditional claim of Heterophragma quadriloculare (Roxb.) K. Schum. for newlinediabetes. From the UPEHQ, two compounds named HQ1 (19, 20-dimethyl-betulinic newlineacid-3-yl-3 -hydroxyhexadecanoate) and HQ2 (25-Methyl-25-norethyl-Stigmast-5-en- newline3-one) were is