Phytochemical Investigation and Toxicological Studies of Lipid Constituents Isolated from Leptadenia pyrotechnica

Investigation of the chemical constituents of Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Asclepiadaceace family) let to isolate three terpenes; phytol, squalene and taraxerol, five sterols; cholesterol, campasterol, stigmasterol, beta -sitosterol and fucosterol. Fifteen fatty acids were isolated (C sub(14)-C sub(25)), eleven n-alkanol (C sub(29)-C sub(39)), series of n-alkanes (C sub(12)-C sub(36)), one n- for the first time eighteen aromatic hydrocarbons were isolated. 5-phenyl-undecane and 6-phenyl-tridecane are the major constituents. The structures of these compounds were established by gas chromatography; GC-FID and GC-MS, spectroscopic techniques; Infra-red (IR) and comparison with the published data. The unsaponifiable matter was divided into two parts: The first part was directly subjected to GC/FID and GC/MS chromatographic analysis. While the second part, was subjected to column chromatographic fractionation. The isolated fractions were identified as fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons, terpenes and sterols. Adduction method was used to separate the straight-chain fatty acids. The acute toxicity study of the total lipid extract was examined on brine shrimp, the LC sub(50) was 35.48 ppm. The extract is highly toxic.