Abstract
The ethanol extract of the kernel of the endemic plant Moringa stenopetala after silica gel column chromatography led to the isolation of 4-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate (1) and sucrose. The oil obtained by Soxhlet extraction with petrol was trans-esterified with BF3-MeOH and analyzed by GC-MS. The results showed the presence of diverse fatty acids namely palmitic (11%), palmitoleic (1.2%), stearic (11%), oleic (63%), linoleic (1.2%), arachidic (6%) and the rare behenic acids (6%). The white glossy seed husk which comprises 25% of the whole seed yielded two compounds namely 4-(σ-L-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl alcohol (2) and allantoin (3). To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of compound 2 as a natural product. Allantoin is reported here for the first time from the genus Moringa. KEY WORDS: Moringa, M. stenopetala, 4-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzylglucosinolate, 4-(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl alcohol, Allantoin Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2017, 31(1), 107-113.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v31i1.9
Highlights
Moringaceae is a unique family of only one genus namely Moringa [1], comprising 14 species found in Asia and Africa
Its common descriptive English name is cabbage tree (English), M. stenopetala is a highly valued plant cultivated in home gardens in southern Ethiopia where the leaves are eaten as vegetables [2] and traditionally used against malaria [3], hypertension, asthma, and diabetes
The composition of the yellowish oil obtained by Soxhlet extraction of the kernel of M. stenopetala with petrol ether (36%) was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), after converting the oil to fatty acid methyl esters using BF3-MeOH
Summary
Moringaceae is a unique family of only one genus namely Moringa [1], comprising 14 species found in Asia and Africa. Ground M. stenopetala kernel (230 g) were Soxhlet extracted with petrol ether (2.3 L) for 15 h, filtered and concentrated to afford 36% yellowish oil.
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