Abstract

LCMS ANALYSIS OF ROOT RESINS OF PLEUROLOBUS GANGETICUS (L.) J.ST._ HIL. (SYN. DESMODIUM GANGETICUM (L.)DC.

Mammen Daniel*, Janvi Patel, Nishtha Patel and Dhwani Pathak

ABSTRACT

Pleurolobus gangeticus J.St._ Hil. (Desmodium gangeticum) is a well known medicinal plant, the roots of which form a component of famous “Dasamoola”. In the absence of availability of large quantities roots, the whole plants are used in preparation of medicines. In a preliminary pharmacognostic study of young roots in our laboratory it is found that the vessels of roots are filled with an yellowish liquefied resin, which on maturity of roots gets converted to crystalline solid form. This resin is isolated and analysed by LCMS. Of the large number of compounds located, only 48% consisting of 3 major compounds, diisobutyl phthalate,12α-dihydroxy-5β-chol-8(14)-en-24-oic acid and 8α-Seco-6,8α-deoxy-5-oxoavermectin and 9 minor components, are identified and almost all of them are known to exhibit significant pharmacological properties. In the remaining 52% of the resin, there appeared three major and five minor unidentified components. The results explicitly prove the great medicinal properties of the roots of this plant. The absence of resin in other plant parts reduces their medicinal values and therefore the usage of whole plant needs to be discouraged as they will result in production of substandard medicines.

Keywords: Pleurolobus gangeticus, Desmodium gangeticum, Dasamoola, Root resin, LCMS. Diisobutyl phthalate.