Preliminary results of activity guided fractionation of the ethnolic extract of dried flowers of Aegle marmelos (belimal)

Abstract

Activity guided fractionation of ethanolic extract of dried flowers of Aegle marmelos, based on the anti-inflammatory effect was studied in the present study. The ethanolic extract of the flowers was partitioned into ethyl acetate and hexane, and the fractions were tested for anti-inflammatory effect using carrageenan-induced paw oedema rat model. The ethyl acetate fraction was separated into fraction 1, 2, 3, and 4 by column chromatography with Sephadex G25 and tested for anti-inflammatory activity. Fraction 1 was fractionated by silica column using ethyl acetate: dichlromethane (100:0 to 0:100) solvent system and obtained fractions a, b and c. They were tested for anti-inflammatory activity. Fraction a, was separated into band 1, 2 and 3 by preparative TLC with hexane: ethyl acetate (1:9) and tested for anti inflammatory effect. Phytochemical screening was done on fractions and the FTIR and NMR spectra of band 3 were taken. The maximum percentage inhibition of paw oedema (MPIPO) of ethyl acetate fraction and hexane fraction were 82.7% and 66.1%, respectively. The MPIPO of fractions 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 86.7%, 72.3%, 75.9%, and 67.3% respectively. The MPIPO of fractions a, b and c were 67.4%, 36.3%, and 53.1% respectively. The MPIPO of bands 1, 2, and 3 were 45.5%, 30.9% and 53.9% respectively.The FTIR spectrum exhibited the presence of O-H/N-H/C=O/C-Cl and C=C groups in band 3 and the NMR readings suggested that the band 3 is required to be purified further. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of poly phenols and triterpenoids in band 3and they may be the compounds that responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of belimal