Bioactive Constituents from Gleditsia triacanthos L. leaves

Abstract

Gleditsia triacanthos L. is a deciduous tree belonging to family Fabaceae. It flowers in July, and the seeds ripen from October to November, Different extracts of Gleditsia posses important pharmacological activities in treating rheumatoid arthritis [1], as anti-mutagenic [2], anticancer [3] and have significant cytotoxic activity against different cell lines [4].The dried powdered leaves of G.Triacanthos was successively extracted with solvents of increasing polarities (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol) as well as the total ethanol extract of the powder was prepared. The petroleum ether extract was fractionated into unsaponifiable matter (USM) and fatty acids (FA).The FA fraction was methylated to give FAME fraction. GC/MS analysis of the USM revealed the identification of twenty four compounds represented 76.86% of the total USM, with squalene (22.68%) as the major compound followed by nonacosane (21.03%) and isophytol (14.70%). The oxygenated compounds represented 23.28% of the total fraction. GC/MS analysis of FAME fraction revealed the identification of twenty one compounds represented 85.87% of the total fraction, with methyl 9,12,15- octadecatrienoate (31.37%) as the major compound followed by methyl hexadecanoate (19.35%), methyl 9,12- octadecadienoate (13.52%) and methyl octadecanoate (8.52%). The unsaturated FA represented 45.64% of the total fraction. The acute anti-inflammatory effect of the total ethanol and successive extracts was evaluated by the carrageenan induced rat hind paw oedema test Winter, et al. [5], which revealed a moderate effect of all extracts. The most potent effect was exhibited by 100mg/kg b.wt. of the total ethanol extract (74.60% potency) in comparison with indomethacin (100% potency).