Studies on Phytoconstituents and Biological Potential of Stem of Moringa oleifera

Abstract

Stem of Moringa oleifera were collected, shadow dried and chopped into small pieces.These were then extracted using methanol by refluxing method and the crude extract obtained was divided into two parts. One part was subjected to column chromatography which afforded a total of four compounds, namely, Cholest-5-en-3-ol(I), Stigmasterol(II), Gamma-sitosterol(III) and Tricosanoic acid(IV). All these compounds were first time reported from stem of Moringa. The other part of the crude extract was fractionated using different polarity solvents viz, hexane, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and water. These fractions and methanol extract were then evaluated for antifungal activity by poisoned food technique against two phytopathogenic fungi. All the fractions were found to be more active against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum.