Isolation and characterization of bioactive compound anthraquinone from methanolic extract of Boerhavia diffusa linn

Boerhavia diffusa Linn. (Nyctaginaceae), commonly known as ‘Punarnava’ is a perennial creeping herb widely studied and has a long history of uses by the tribal people and in Ayurvedic and Unani medicines. Our previous study showed that in different extracts of Boerhavia diffusa (ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, aqueous and hexane), methanolic extract had significant anti-oxidant activity, but the active components present in that extracts are still unclear. In this study, Boerhavia diffusa Linn was investigated for the bioactive compounds present in its methanolic extract. Separation and purification of the compounds in the most active methanol extract was done using a combination of column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. The compound was identified using gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry. The resulted compound anthraquinone which is also called as 9, 10 anthracenedione. In addition to their known use as natural dyes, it have several biological activities like antitumor, antiinflammatory, diuretic , antiarthritic, antifungal, antibacterial, antimalarial and antioxidant activities . This justifies the use of this plant in traditional medicine and indicates a promising potential for the development of medicinal agents from Boerhavia diffusa. Keywords: Antioxidant, Boerhavia diffusa Linn, anthraquinone, column chromatography, Thin layer Chromatograhy, GC-MS.