Phytochemical Investigation of Extracts of the Flowers of Calbtropis procem and Evaluation of their Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study was concerned with the flowers of Calbtropis procera of the family Asclepiadaceae, known in Sudan under the vernacular name Ushar. The diethyl ether, methanol and water extracts were phytochemically screened and the results showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars and saponins. Petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts were also tested against two Gram - positive bacteria: $acilTus sufitafis and Stpfiyfococcus aureus and two Gram-negative bacteria: Ecol? and Qseudomonas aeruginosa. Results revealed that the methanolic extract was the most active, specially against 95.c0[i and <Pseuz[0m01zas aeroginosa, followed by chloroform, while the petroleum ether extract was insignificantly active. Accordingly, the methanolic extract was further investigated by column chromatography and TLC. Three pure compounds have been isolated and investigated by IR-spectroscopy and could be referred to the alkaloids or cardiac glycosides.