Phytochemical Study of the Major Flavonoid from Punica granatum

Abstract

Fruit peels of punica granatum were extracted with 95% ethanol. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure gave a crud product which was subjected to phytochemical screening . Phytochemical screening of the alcoholic extract revealed the presence of flavonoids , steroid , glycosides and absence of alkaloids. The ethyl acetate extract which resulted by partitioning the alcoholic with ethyl acetate gave a positive test for flavonoids . it was fractionated over silica gel plates developed by 60% acetic acid . in this way a pure flavonoid- compound A was isolated . the IR data reflected the anticipated functional groups. UV studies indicated a benzoyl chromophore ( band II of flavonoids ). When investigating the isoflavone with UV shift reagents the hydroxylation pattern of the isolated component was illustrated . The spectral studies indicated that the isolated component is : a 5,4 - dihydroxyisoflavone