Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_165
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949965

Phenolics, volatiles and biological activities of Salix babylonica L. leaves and stem bark

AH Abou Zeid 1
  • 1Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, El-Tahrir St, Dokki (12622) Cairo, Egypt

Since ancient times, Salix spp. has been used for treatment of various diseases. The main active constituent of this species is the phenolic glycoside salicin which is responsible for pharmaceutical values of these plants. The present study deals with isolation and identification of phenolics from Salix babylonica L. leaves, as well as, investigation of volatile constituents of both leaves and stem bark of the same plant. The LD50, anti-inflammatory (carrageen an induced rat hind baw oedema test), analgesic (Charlier,et al. method), antipyretic (Bush and Alexander method), antioxidant (DPPH / ESR method) and antimicrobial (paper-disc antibiotic assay method) activities of 95% ethanol of leaves and stem bark were investigated. The dried powdered leaves of the plant were extracted with 95% ethanol by maceration. The ethanol extract was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in water and extracted with petroleum ether followed by ethyl acetate. The phenolic compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract by using polyamide column chromatography [1, 2]. Two flavonoids, luteolin and luteolin-6-C-β-D-glucopyraniside (iso-orientin) and two phenolic glycosides, trichocarpin and tremuloidin were isolated, identified by physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods [2, 3]. The volatile constituents of both leaves and stem bark of S. babylonica were prepared by hydro-distillation using Nikerson apparatus and analyzed by GC/MS analysis. Fifty and forty five compounds were identified representing 88.04% and 87.38% of the total volatiles of leaves and stem bark, respectively. The total oxygenated compounds constituted 53.25% and 85.49% of the volatiles of leaves and stem bark, respectively. The results of biological tests were statistically analyzed using the student's “t“ test. Significant activities were obtained.

References: 1. Titto, R. (1985), J. Agric. Food Chem. 33: 213–217. 2. Mabry, J., Markham, K. (1970), The Systematic Identification of Flavonoids, Springer Verlag, Berlin. 3. Steele, J., Weitzel, P. (1972), J. Chrom. A 71: 435–441.