Isolation and Characterization of the Chemical constituents of Leaves of <I>Boerhavia coccinea</I>

Abstract

The aim of this study is the qualitative phytochemical evaluation, column chromatographic fractionation using different solvent systems, isolation and characterization, and TLC analysis of fractions of the whole plant of B. coccinea. The whole plant of B. coccinea was collected from Oria Abraka, Delta State, and authenticated in the Department of Botany, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. The collected sample was thoroughly washed under running tap water, air dried to a constant weight, and ground to powder using a mechanical blender. About 60 g of the ground powder was weighed using a weighing balance and extracted with redistilled n-hexane using Soxhlet apparatus. The extract was then redistilled to recover the solvent and gum was obtained. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out according to the standard analytical method, Column chromatographic fractionation of the extract was done using silica gel as stationary phase with different solvent system of n-hexane/chloroform and chloroform/methanol at 100%, 7:3, 1:1, and 3:7 ratios. Further TLC purification of separated fractions was carried out. The study revealed the presence of some secondary metabolites (alkaloids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids and tannins). Fraction A, B and C with weight 1.02 g, 1.04 g and 1.98 g had retention factors of 0.90, 0.86 and 0.79 respectively when analyzed using the TLC. Column chromatographic separation revealed the presence of Ar-OH (1), C-C (2), OH (2), R-C=N (1), C=C (1), Ar-C=C (1), R-O-R (1), and C-O-H (1) functional groups in all 3 fractions obtained.