Characterisation and identification of taraxerol and taraxer-14-en-3-one from Jatropha tanjorensis (Ellis and Saroja) leaves

Abstract

Jatropha tanjorensis leaves were collected, air dried and pulverised. The pulverised sample was extracted with solvents (n-hexane, ethylacetate and ethanol) of varying polarity to obtain the crude extracts. Repeated column and thin layer chromatographic separation of the crude extracts afforded two compounds which were characterised by their IR, MS, 1H and 13C-NMR spectral data. Comparison of the data with literature confirmed the compounds to be taraxerol and taraxer-14-en-3-one.