Planta Med 2011; 77 - P_58
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273587

Isolation of Chemical Markers from Leaves of Acacia rigidula

RS Pawar 1, E Grundel 1, S Lorenz 1, E Mazzola 1, M Eason 2, AJ Krynitsky 1, JI Rader 1
  • 1Office of Regulatory Science, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
  • 2Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. Austin, Texas 78739, USA

Acacia rigidula is a species that grows in the southern part of Texas, USA. The leaf extract of this plant is used in several weight-loss and body-building products in the US market with no published data on its biological effects. Further, with little confirmation, limited chemical investigations published on A. rigidula leaves have reported the presence of more than 40 bioactive alkaloids and amines belonging to several classes [2]. The purpose of the present study was to establish the phytochemical characteristics of A. rigidula leaves. The detannified portion of the n-butanol fraction obtained from the methanol extract was processed chromatographically to isolate its chemical constituents. Several chemical markers, that include several flavonoids, were isolated and chemically characterized by using chemical, MS and NMR techniques. These components can be used as unique chemical markers and can be used to develop quantitative analytical methods for identification of the plant and products containing it.

References: [1] Seigler DS, (2003) Biochemcal Systematics and Ecology 31: 845–873. [2] Clement BA, et al. (1998) Phytochemistry 49: 1377–1 380.