Isolation, quantification and chemical characterisation of ecdysterone from medicinal plants of Kerala, Western Ghats

Abstract

Ecdysteroids are a group of compounds responsible for molting in insects and is variously expressed in plant kingdom, believed to be a means of deterring insects by influencing the metabolism and metamorphosis in these vectors. Kerala flora has not been screened for the presence of ecdysteroids before. This work is a follow up study based on a preliminary Bio prospection study on fifty medicinally important plants used by indigenous tribes of Kerala for the presence of ecdysterone. Four potential plant species which were found to have adequate amount of compound-Diploclisia, Cyathula, Sesuvium and Coscinium-were put to detailed extraction, isolation, quantification and chemical chaceterisation using HPLC, UV and IR spectroscopy. Literature survey suggested that soil and geographical regime has direct influence on the expression levels of ecdysterone. Some variations were observed in the expression levels of ecdysterone in our study too, in comparison with published literature but potential sources from indigenous plants were identified during this study. Availability in adequate quantity of this wonder molecule will increase its multi-faceted activity related studies in future.