PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF PLUMERIA RUBRA L. VARIETY ACUTIFOLIA GROWN IN EGYPT

A. N. Sengab *, K. M. Meselhy**, H. A. Fahmy*** and  A. A. Sleem****

*Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University

**Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University

***Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University

****Pharmacology Department, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

Received:10-12-2009

Accepted:31-12-2009

GLC analysis of the USM of lipoidal matter of the leaves of Plumeria rubra L. var. acutifolia grown in Egypt revealed that it consisted mainly of hydrocarbons (26.26%), and sterols (56%). The fatty acids fraction comprised saturated fatty acids (63.66%) and unsaturated fatty acids (34.4%).

The hydrodistilled essential oil yield =1.4 % v/w (calculated on dry weight basis) of the Plumeria rubra flowers was subjected to GC/MS for qualitative and quantitative analyses. Oxygenated compounds were dominant; being 70.6%, while hydrocarbons amounted to 25.07%. The main oxygenated compounds are farnesol, geraniol and phenylethyl benzoate, while the major hydrocarbons are methyl pentadecane and α-terpinolene.

     Five compounds were isolated from the alcoholic extract of the leaves and were identified as lupeol nanoate, lupeol heptanoate, rubrinol glucoside, β-sitosterol-β-D- glucoside, and plumeiride coumarate, on the basis of their physicochemical characters and spectral analyses. The tested samples prepared from the plant under investigation exhibited significant biological activities (analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, antihyperglycaemic, hepatoprotective, antiwormal and antimicrobial activities).

Keywords: Plumeria rubra L. var. acutifolia, β-sitosterol-β-D- glucoside, lupeol nanoate, lupeol heptanoate, rubrinol glucoside, plumeiride coumarate, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic,  antioxidant,  antihyperglycaemic,  hepatoprotective, antiwormal, antimicrobial activities.