A pentacyclic triterpenoid possessing analgesic activity from the fruits of Dregea volubilis

Abstract

Fruits of Dregea volubilis were extracted by petroleum ether and subjected to column chromatography for obtaining the pure compound. The structure was determined on the basis of IR, MASS, NMR (PMR, CMR and DEPT) spectroscopic analysis. The compound was screened for analgesic activity in swiss albino mice by inducing writhing reflex with acetic acid. The petroleum ether extract of the fruits of Dregea volubilis Benth led to isolation of a pentacyclic triterpenoid designated as taraxerol and characterized as D- friedoolean- 14- en, 3 ol [Figure 1]. In vitro analgesic activity has been shown by the isolated taraxerol. The compound taraxerol obtained from the petroleum ether extract of the fruits of Dregea volubilis showed analgesic activity in swiss albino mice.