Isolation and characterization of spinasterol from crossopterxy febrifuga stem bark

In this study, stem bark of Crossopteryx febrifuga (Rubiaceae), a traditional medicinal, plant used for treatment of various diseases. The diseases was phytochemically screened by cold maceration using hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts. Results revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and phytosterols. Separation and purification of the ethyl acetate extracts by column chromatography (CC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and characterization with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses, led to isolation of spinasterol, established on the basis of both 13C and 1H NMR spectral data and by comparison with literature. It was also confirmed that, spinasterol cures diabetes by reducing serum triglycerides. This is the first report on isolation of spinasterol from the stem bark of Crossopteryx febrfuga.