Chemical characterization of Pterocarpus santalinus wood using GC-MS

Abstract

Pterocarpus santalinus heart wood had various medicinal properties and the deep red coloured heart wood is known to yield dye called santalin. Pterocarpus santalinus heart wood are used as a cooling agent, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-helminthic, tonic, hemorrhage, chronic dysentery and diaphoretic as well as induce vomiting, to improve eye sight, mental aberrations and ulcers. Totally 14 compounds were identified in ethanolic extract of Pterocarpus santalinus wood. The major compounds in terms of peak area viz., Tricyclo[4.4.0.0(2,7)]dec-8-ene-3-methanol, a,a,6,8-tetramethyl-, stereoisomer (36.607%), followed by a-Bisabolol (6.468%), 2-Naphthalenemethanol, decahydro-a,a,4atrimethyl-8-methylene-, [2R-(2a,4aa,8aa)] (4.615%), 2-Naphthalenemethanol, 1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7-octahydro-a,a,4a,8-tetramethyl-, (2R-cis)- (2.698%) and minor compound is 3-Hydroxy-1a,3,6,6-tetramethylhexahydro-2-oxacyclopropa[d]naphthalen-5-one (0.408%) with retention time 18.885, 14.558, 13.898, 13.382 and 21.271 minutes respectively. The above component in the wood is used to treat snake bites and scorpion stings. Its toxicity, wound healing potential also evaluated in animal studies, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.