The Chemical Study of Components of Saussurea lappa Root Extract

Natural products, sourced from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms, have been vital to human health for millennia, offering disease treatments and prevention. This article explores Saussurea lappa (Decne.) Sch.Bip, a medicinal plant with significant pharmacological potential. This article explores the extraction methods and chemical composition of S. Lappa, focusing on its bioactive constituents and therapeutic potential. The seeds of S. lappa were obtained from the Biological Research Center at the University of Baghdad. The plants were then cultivated at Diyala University, and their roots were used during the flowering stage. Roots of S. Lappa were washed, air-dried, ground into a powder, and stored for future use. A portion of the ground powder (۱۶-۱۸ g) was extracted with ethyl acetate and ethanol using a Soxhlet extractor, followed by concentration with a rotary evaporator. The ethanol extract was subjected to column chromatography on silica gel, resulting in the isolation of pure compounds. The ethyl acetate extract was also fractionated, yielding a low polar UV-active compound. The extraction and analysis of S. Lappa successfully isolated a pure compound through both ethanolic and ethyl acetate extractions. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and additional chromatographic techniques confirmed the presence of terpenes in both fractions. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy indicated an exo-methylene butyrolactone structure, supported by ۱H-NMR data showing characteristic peaks. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified two similar compounds with molecular formulas C۱۵H۱۸O۲ and C۱۵H۲۰O۲, suggesting a highly unsaturated nature with multiple rings. The absence of free hydroxyl groups and the presence of carbonyl functionalities were further corroborated by ۱۳C NMR, indicating a mixture of two sesquiterpene structures. Overall, both ethanolic and ethyl acetate extractions successfully isolated a pure sesquiterpene compound with significant therapeutic potential.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bioactive Terpenes ، ethyl acetate ، Saussurea lappacostus ، Sesquiterpene Therapeutic Potential ، Soxhlet Extraction