Preliminary phytochemical screening, isolation and structural elucidation of chloroform leaf extracts of Maesa lanceolata

Wondu Dagnaw and Alemayehu Mekonnen

Abstract

The aim of this study was to screen the phytochemical constituents, isolate and elucidate the structure of chloroform extracts from the leaves of Maesa lanceolata. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract of Maesa
lanceolata was done following standard procedures and the tests revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides and saponins in the crude extracts. The chloroform extract of the leaves of M. lanceolata led to the isolation of one
compound, C1. Structure determination was accomplished by means of spectroscopic methods (IR, 13C and 1H NMR). According to the spectral data (IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and DEPT), probably Myrsenene was identified which is
reported for the first time from M. lanceolata.