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Planta Med 1977; 31(1): 60-67
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1097491
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

PHARMACOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SAPONIN FRACTION OF OPILIA CELTIDIFOLIA

I. M. Shihata, A. Y. I. El–Gendi, M. M. Abd El–Malik
  • Pharmacology Dept. Fac. Vet. Med. Cairo Univ. and Natural Product Lab., National Research Centr. Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
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Publication History

Publication Date:
13 January 2009 (online)

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Abstract

The stem bark of Opilia celtidifolia was extracted wiht methanol and then fractionated into five fractions. Fraction F 1 was shown to comparise four saponins. It was possible to isolate the three least polar glycosides (G 1 –G 3 ) by preparative layer chromatography. The sugar part in all the isolated saponin was found to consist of arabinose and mannose. The aglycone content of G 1 and G 3 were identified as aleonalic acid while the aglycone of G 2 was found to be hederagnin.

Because of the therapeutic application of this plant in Folk's medicine, it was decided to study the pharmacological properties of the saponin content (F 1) of this plant. It seems to possess the following properties: Intestinal antispasmodic, uterine stimulant, hypotensive, depress the coronary outflow, but has no effect on renal outflow and it activates to, a great extent, the activities of dog parasites (Taenia pisiformis and Toxascaris leonani).

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