Isolation and characterization of phytoconstituents from the chloroform extract of Abutilon indicum leaves (Family: Malvaceae)

Compounds like phytosterols, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins are the plant metabolites that are important for many pharmacological activites. Here we report the investigation of the phytoconstituents responsible for these activities which led to the isolation of stigmasterol, 3, 3′,4′, 5, 7-pentahydroxy flavone and (3β) -cholest-5-en-3-ol from the chloroform extract of the Abutilon indicum leaves. These compounds were identified by their melting points, chemical tests, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The isolated compounds were qualified by comparison with the Rf values of that of the standards. Presence of these compounds in the chloroform extract may be an important contributing factor for the pharmacological activities. In our previous work, we had performed the phytochemical screening of different extracts and reported the chemical constituents present in the methanol extract and petroleum ether extracts from the leaves of the plant Abutilon indicum. Two of the compounds are isolated for the first time from the leaves of this plant.