A PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE LEAVES OF ARISTOLOCHIA ELEGANS

Abstract

Preliminary work on the leaves of Aristolochia elegans Mast, grown in Egypt showed the presence of five alkaloids, three major and two minor ones. The dried leaves were first defatted with light petroleum. From the unsaponifiable portion of the light petroleum extract, a steroidal material was isolated in a pure crystalline form and was identified as β-sitosterol. The defatted marc left after the extraction with light petroleum was extracted with alcohol and the alcoholic extract was fractionated. From the different fractions two alkaloids were isolated in a resinous sticky form and were named Alkaloid A and Alkaloid B. A phenolic material was also isolated in a pure crystalline form m. p. 250° C, molecular formula C ₈₂ H ₂₉ N ₂ O ₇ and was named material C.