Investigation of the Major Flavonoid of Mitracarpus hirtus

Abstract

Phytochemical screening of the alcoholic extract of the Mitracarpus hirtus indicated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides. Steroids were not detected. It was decided to investigate the flavonoids of this herb due to their medicinal value and relative abundance. The crude product obtained from the alcoholic extract was re-extracted with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate extractive gave positive test for flavonoid but the chloroform extractive did not. The ethyl acetate extractive was subjected to paper chromatography, which indicated the presence of one major flavonoid. This flavonoid was obtained in the pure state by preparative paper chromatography. The spectral studies (UV, IR) of this flavonoid indicated that it is a 5, 7- dihydroxydihydroflavono