A Novel Method for Isolation of Plumbagin

Abstract

The Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone) is the characteristic naphthoquinone present in the different species of the plant Plumbago (Family: Plumbaginaceae) commonly known as Chitrak in India. Plumbagin is the active principle of the Plant Plumbago rosea (Syn. P. indica). Plumbagin exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anticoagulant, anti-fertility, anti-cancer activity. Keeping this point of view various workers have made effort to isolate plumbagin from the plant. There are a lot of literature available related to the isolation and identification of plumbagin from the roots of Plumbago rosea Linn. In our findings, fractionating of rectified spirit extract was made between the different solvents, such as chloroform, diethyl ether, benzene etc., depending upon their polarity. In the present investigation, the benzene fraction so obtained appeared yellow crystalline substance. Further on investigation proved it to be a plumbagine, which was also identified by the advanced sophisticated instruments like Ultra- violet visible spectrophotometer, shown the maximum absorbance at 474nm and chances of error was found to be 0.001%.

Keywords: Plumbagine, isolation, P. rosea, TLC, napthoquinone