Caffeine and P-anisaldehyde from the Fruits of Enterolobium Saman Prain

Fruits of the plant were air dried for several days and cut into small pieces, which were subjected to oven dried for 24 hours at 45-50°C to effect further chopping. Cold methanol extract of fruits were subjected to acid-base treatment to separate the alkaloids. The treated extract was subjected to column chromatography to isolate the pure compound. The xanthine alkaloid, 1, 3, 7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2, 6 (3H, 7H)-dione, caffeine (compound 1) and also p-anisaldehyde (compound 2) were isolated from the column fraction of this ‘alkaloid containing residue’ by elution with ethyl acetate/10% methanol and ethyl acetate/50-100% methanol, respectively. The isolated pure compounds were identified by extensive spectral (H-NMR, C-NMR, DEPT, HMBC, HSQC, Mass) data analysis. Greshoff isolated an alkaloid, pithecolobin from the bark, which is saponin like in its action. Wehmer stated that the seeds also contain pithecolobin. In the Philippines, a decoction of the inner bark (fresh cambium) and the fresh leaves of this tree is used in diarrhea. All these above mentioned study lead us to work on it. INTRODUCTION: Enterolobium saman (Jacq.) Prain (Leguminosae, subfamily Mimosoideae) is a large tree of 20 to 25 meters high with characteristic umbrellashapped canopy, native to Latin America where is commonly known as “Rain-tree” and also available in Bangladesh with the bengali name of “Koroi” . The fresh leaves of the plants are used in diarrhea . Previous investigations of Enterolobium saman Prain have revealed the presence of a number of secondary metabolites viz., triterpene bisdesmosides enterolosaponins A and B , albizzine . Fruit sample of Enterolobium saman Prain was collected from the University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, in December 2005. The plant was identified by Mr. Monjurul Kader Mia, Principal Scientific Officer, Bangladesh National Herbarium. A voucher specimen for this collection is maintained at the Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH) under the accession number, DACB32081. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Usually the intact plant/plant part(s) is collected as a whole and sundried. In fresh condition, it is then oven-dried at reduced temperature (not more than 50C) to make suitable for grinding purpose. The coarse powder is then stored in airtight container with marking for identification and kept in cool, dark and dry place for use. Extraction can be done in two waysCold Extraction and Hot Extraction. Chromatographic techniques are the most useful in the isolation and purification of compounds from plant extracts. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to determine the structure of the compound.