Study on Chemical Composition of Nauclea Officinalis Leaves

Abstract

Objective: The chemical composition of Nauclea officinalis leaves is analyzed to offer a theoretical base for its application. Method: Separate Nauclea officinalis leaves by solvent extraction and silica gel column, and characterize the product structure through analysis on physical properties and spectrum. Results and conclusions: 7 compounds have been separated from liposoluble part of Nauclea officinalis leaves, 5 compounds among them have been characterized, which in turn are-sitosterol palmitate (1), stigmast-4-en-3-one (2),-sitosterol (3), 24-en-cycloartenone (4) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (5), wherein (1) and (4) are separated from Nauclea officinalis leaves for the first time. Nauclea officinalis Merr. Chun, a tree placed in Genus Nauclea of Family Rubiaceae, is found widely in Guangdong, Guangxin, Yunnan and etc. in China. Its branch, stem and root, gatherable throughout the year, are cut into small pieces and dried for the medical purpose. It is cold natured, tastes bitter, and can be used for treating exogenous fever, acute tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, enteritis, dysentery, acute jaundice, stomachache and etc (Deng, Shiming, 2006, p. 149). Nauclea officinalis is widely cultivated in Hainan. The existing Chinese medicines of this type distributed in the market are Nauclea Officinalis Injection and Nauclea Officinalis Extract Tablet, both from Nauclea officinalis bark. However, gathering bark is destructive to Nauclea officinalis. It is proved by the preliminary experiment and anti-microbial activity experiment that the composition of Nauclea officinalis leaves is similar to that of Nauclea officinalis bark, and there are plenty of leaves on Nauclea officinalis, therefore, the chemical composition of Nauclea officinalis leaves is systematically analyzed in this study for sustainable development and exploitation of Nauclea officinalis. 7 compounds are separated from liposoluble part of Nauclea officinalis leaves, 5 compounds among them have been characterized, which in turn are-sitosterol palmitate (1), stigmast-4-en-3-one (2),-sitosterol (3), 24-en-cycloartenone (4) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, wherein (1) and (4) are separated from Nauclea officinalis leaves for the first time.