Commiphora africana Resin Phytochemical Analysis & Some Biological Aspects

Abstract

Medicinal plants are the richest bioresources of drugs. There is need to validate medicinal and aromatic plants researches results through an organized database. Objective: To identify the terpenoids in Commiphora africana resin and some biological activity specially antiviral activity. Materials and Methods: Two different methods were done to identify Terpenoids in this resin, dipping the resin in CH2Cl2 and isolation using column chromatography [1], ethanol and water extract were extracted for phytochemical screening and the biological aspects. Results: Phytochemical screening identified that Flavonoids, Saponins, Alkaloids and Terpenes were the major constituents of C. africana resin ethanolic and water extracts. GC-MS analysis of CH2Cl2 extract and the isolated samples by column chromatography revealed compounds which can play important role in therapy, so as Betulin C30H50O2. Urs-12-en-28-al, 3-(acetyloxy) C32H50O3. Cholest-22-ene-21-ol, 3-5-dehydro-6-methoxy-, pivalate C33H54O3 and Phthalic acid, bis(2-pentyl) ester  C18H26O4. LC50 values of water and ethanolic extracts were found to be 100 and 630.9 respectively.  While the LC50 for the aqueous water solution of the crude resin was found to be 63.1. High and clear antiviral activity towards Newcastle virus was observed at 400 ug/ml C. africana  water solution, 400 ug/ml C. africana water extract  and 100, 200, 400, 500 ug/ml C. africana ethanol extract. The highest antimicrobial activity recorded was obtained for C. africana ethanol extract against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella porwonia, Asperogillus niger and Candida Albicans.  Conclusion: Antiviral activity shown by Commiphora africana resin extracts may be due to different compounds included.