Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry Vol. 1 No. 4 2012 www.phytojournal.com Page | 15 Isolation Of Crotepoxide From Berries of Croton Macrostachyus and Evaluation of Its Anti-Leishmanial Activity

Abstract

The chloroform extract of the berries of Croton macrostachyus was subjected to column chromatography with chloroform: ethyl acetate mixture as eluting solvent that led to isolation of Crotepoxide. Evaluation of antleishmanial activity of crotepoxide against promatigotes and amastigotes form of L. aethiopica showed that the compound is less active as compared to the reference antileishamnial drugs (amphotericin B and miltefosine). Regardless of the observed activity, further in vivo tests are recommended before drawing any conclusion about the potential of the compound as a new antileishamnial drug candidate. Keyword: Mimusops elengi, Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Triterpenoids, Saponins