A Comparative Analysis of the Phytochemical Variability of Arboreal Rutaceae Members

The accumulation tendencies of different classes of compounds within the related Rutaceae genera and species are well documented, considering different populations and plant individuals. Aegle marmelos is one species which has been largely exploited in India in indigenous systems of medicine as a potential herbal medicine for abdominal disorders. The species has been listed as Vulnerable due to its destructive harvest. In this paper, the secondary metabolites of Aegle marmelos are compared with two other arboreal species, Feronia limonia and Chloroxylon sweitenia. This is an unexploited field of research in Natural Products and Pharmacology which offers great potential to identify species which can be used as substitutes or alternates in indigenous medicine. Use of alternate species requires further understanding of the pharmacology; however, a profiling of the compounds of the three species reveals that the chemical composition is almost similar, the other members having increased levels of the metabolites, in addition to newer compounds, suggesting their use as alternatives. INTRODUCTION: India and China are two of the largest countries in Asia, which have the richest arrays of registered and relatively well-known medicinal plants. Ancient Indian system of medicine known as Ayurveda employs medicines prepared mostly from wild plants. The roots, tubers, bulbs, leaves, fruits, flowers and barks of wild vegetation, depending on their active principle contents, are used for the preparation of medicines for different ailments. Indian rich biological diversity supported the system of medicine from times immemorial. Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. belongs to the family Rutaceae. The common names for the tree are Bael in Hindi, Bilwa in Sanskrit, Maredu in Telugu, Bil in Gujarati, Kumbala in Kannada, Vilvam in Tamil and Kuvalam in Malayalam. It is a small to moderate sized deciduous tree, 20-25 feet in height and 3-4 feet in girth with straight sharp axillary thorns and trifoliate leaves. It is wild in the sub Himalayan tract, central and southern India. It is found all over the country. The root, stem and leaves have been shown to contain tannins. Alkaloids, sterols, coumarin and aromatic components have been isolated. Aegelin, marmelosine, marmelin, o-methyl hayordinol, alloimperatorin methyl ester, oisopentanyl hayordinol and linoleic acid have been identified. Aegelin, formerly identified as sterol but clarified as a neutral alkaloid, rutacine, y-sitosterol, aegelemine and aegeline were identified from the leaves.