Chemical constituents from the seeds of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre.

Abstract

Six compounds (two sterols, three sterol derivatives and one disaccharide) together with eight fatty acids (three saturated and five unsaturated) have been isolated from the seeds of Pongamia pinnata. Their structures were elucidated with the help of physico-chemical methods and spectroscopic techniques. The metabolities, beta-sitosteryl acetate and galactoside, stigma sterol, its galactoside and sucrose are being reported for the first time from this plant. The saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (two monoenoic, one dienoic and two trienoic) were present in exactly the same amount. Oleic acid occurred in highest amount (44.24%), stearic (29.64%) and palmitic (18.58%) acids were the next in quantity. Hiragonic and octadecatrienoic acids were present in trace amounts (0.88%).