ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF FLAVONOIDS FROM IRANIAN SENNA

Abstract

Background. Senna italica Miller or Cassia italica (Miller) Sprengel is a native medicinal plant growing in south of Iran and has laxative and cathartic effects. Anthraquinone compounds have been partly associated with the purgative effects of the plant. One of the side effects of anthraquinones is griping and presence of flavonoid compounds in the plant may decrease this effect.
Methods. In this study, the plant after being collected, was extracted by a soxhlet method. The isolation of flavonoids was carried out by means of preparative Thin Layer Chromatography of extract of the plant leaves. The structure of flavonoids was determined by the UV-Vis. techniques in methanol and by addition of the shift reagents and hydrolysis. The quantitative determinations of flavonoids in plant were also performed using an UV-Vis. spectroscopy method.
Results and Discussion. Rutin or 5, 7, 3', 4' tetrahydroxy-flavone 3-O-rhamnoglucoside and two flavonoids from aurone group were isolated and identified from the leaves of Senna italica. The percent of flavonoids in Iranian Senna determined 1.5 fold than Cassia angustifolia. These flavonoids may decrease the griping effects of Senna anthraquinones