Isolation and identification of compounds from the leaf extract of melaleuca alternifolia

Abstract

Introduction: Melaleuca alternifolia also known as Tea tree oil belonging to family Myrtaceae. This plant has diverse and therapeutic uses in traditional herbal medicine for treating Skin care, First Aid, Household Cleaning, Hair care, Aromatherapy, Feminine care, Chronic illness, and Dental care in Australia. Method: The methanolic extract of Melaleuca alternifolia family Myrtaceae was subjected for Soxhlet extraction in round bottomed flask with petroleum ether. The petroleum ether extracted leaf powder was dried and once again subjected to Soxhlet extraction successively with different solvents viz, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol. Result: The IR spectra showed characteristic absorption bands at 3421 cm-1 indicating the presence of a OH group, at 1691cm-1 for C=O group, 2848 cm-1. The 1HNMR spectra showed a triplet signal at δ 10.44, 9.48, 13.21 showing the presence of OH group and Carboxylic acid. The 13C NMR spectra showed signals at δ 16.28 for a methyl carbon, δ 29.89 for a methylene carbon, The ESI-negative mode mass spectrum showed pseudo molecular ions at m/z 515 for [M+] ion. Conclusion: Based on spectral analysis and comparison of the spectral data with literature values, the compounds were identified as 3,3'dimethylellagic acid and its aglycone portion with some little impurity.