Isolation and spectroscopic characterization of indole alkaloids and coumarin from Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25081/jp.2026.v18.10012Keywords:
TLC, Methanolic extract, Indole alkaloids, Coumarin, Reserpine, Yohimbine, SeselinAbstract
Rauvolfia verticillata is a highly significant and rare medicinal shrub belonging to the family Apocynaceae, renowned as a primary source of pharmacologically active indole alkaloids. This study aims to isolate and characterize the bioactive secondary metabolites derived from the methanolic stem extract of R. verticillata. To achieve this, the dried stem powder was subjected to exhaustive extraction with methanol. The crude methanolic extract was subsequently fractionated via column chromatography. The resulting fractions were monitored and evaluated using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC); fractions exhibiting a single, distinct band were identified as isolated, homogenous compounds. Through this chromatographic workflow, two major indole alkaloids, reserpine and yohimbine and one coumarin derivative, seselin, were successfully isolated. The structural elucidation and chemical integrity of these pure compounds were comprehensively confirmed using an array of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, including Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. To fully ascertain the therapeutic potential of the extract and its isolated compounds, future investigations will focus on evaluating their toxicity profiles and conducting in vivo pharmacological studies.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nisha Ayyappan, R. Ramasubbu, E. G. Wesely Jebasing Devairakkam
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