Abstract:
In this study the leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca Del., which
is widely used in the traditional medicine of Sudan, were
phytochemically screened and found to contain flavonoids,
alkaloids, sterols, tannins and saponins. One of the flavonoids
(compound1) was isolated and purified from the ethanolic
extract by thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel using
the solvent system butan-2-ol: acetic acid: water (5:1:4).
A tentative structure of this flavonoid was deduced on the
basis of its IR, UV and MS spectra and acid hydrolysis and it
was found to be 8-(1-propenyl)-3'-ethoxyl-4'-hydroxyflavone-7-
O-glycoside.
The antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of the
leaves, the water extract and the isolated pure compound was
evaluated against seven gram-positive and gram-negative
microorganisms. The water extract was found to be the most
active against Escherichia coli. Compound 1 exhibited weak
antimicrobial activity on Bacillus subtillis and Staphylococcus
aureus at concentration of 10%.