Triterpenoids of Adenanthera pavonina Root

AbstractThe different parts (leaves1, seeds2 and bark3) of the leguminous tree, Adenanthera pavonina L. have already been examined. There does not appear to be any work on the root of the tree and therefore systematic work on it has been carried out. The alcoholic extract of the roots after separation of hexane and ether soluble fractions yielded a semi-solid which gave copious frothing when shaken with water. The crude product after purification yielded a saponin which on acidic hydrolysis yielded a mixture (3 spots on TLC) of genin acids from which after methylation followed by chromatography only two products, m.p. 190-193° and 208-214° respectively could be isolated as single compounds. The sugar moiety of the saponin was found to be glucose only.