PHYTOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF FLOWERS OF JASMINUM AURICULATUM VAHL

Yogendr Bahuguna* and Kaushal Kishore Chandrul

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was phytochemical investigation of extracts of flowers of Jasminum auriculatum Vahl. (Oleaceae). The alcoholic extract (AlcE, 10% w/v) of dried coarse powdered flowers was prepared using 70% v/v alcohol by soxhlet method at a temperature of 60-70°C (yield 5.4% w/w). The alcoholic extract (500 g) was divided into two equal portions. Each portion was suspended in distilled water (500 ml) and then extracted with petroleum ether (60 – 80°C, 8 X 500 ml) and ethyl acetate (8 X 500 ml) in succession. All the fractions were then washed with distilled water (30 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and freed of solvent by distillation. The ethanol extract was thus fractioned into petroleum ether soluble fraction (40 g) and ethyl acetate soluble fraction (68 g). Chemical investigation of the flowers led to the isolation of three compounds namely lupeol, apigenin and quercetin. The constituents isolated and characterized from the Jasminum auriculatum flowers can be categorized under the triterpenes flavonoids. Triterpenes like lupeol were isolated from petroleum ether extracts and flavonoids like quercetin was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract and characterized by spectral data. In conclusion, Flavonoids like quercetin are believed to act as diuretic hence hastens the process of dissolving the preformed stones in curative regimen and prevention of new stone formation in urinary system on prophylactic treatment and as antioxidant agents, therefore may be useful in the treatment of urolithiasis, where lipid peroxidation is an important constituent. This investigation could conclude the antiurolithiatic property of J. auriculatum flowers due to the presence of flavonoids like quercetin.

Keywords: Jasminum auriculatum, Alcoholic Extract, Fractionation, Triterpenes, Flavonoids.