Biological and Phytochemical Studies on Heartwood of Acacia catechu of Nepal

Abstract

Biological and Phytochemical screening of heartwood of Acacia catechu was studied. Phytocostituents found were Sterols, Flavones Aglycones, Tannins and Polyphenols. The column chromatography of diethyl ether fractions result in the isolation of β-Sitosterol (Ac1), Quercetin (Ac4), (+) Catechin (Ac6). Other four compounds Ac2, Ac3, Ac5, Ac7 whose work is on progress, were also isolated. Antibacterial screening, antifungal screening and brine shrimp bioassay of different fractions showed that hexane, chloroform, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and methanol fraction were biologically active. In brine shrimp bioassay only diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol fraction showed activity.