INTRODUCTION
Most micro organisms and pest have developed
resistance to the existing synthetic drugs and
pesticide. For these reasons, the continuing search
for new drugs and pesticides have been most
intensive from plants such as the marine plants called
physostigma venenosum [calabar bohme (Rehm,
1994)].
Physostigma venenosum is a woody climber growing
on the bank of streams/rivers in the tropical West
Africa (Louis et al 1997).
The bean seems to confine in its habitat to a limited
area around the Gulf of Guinea and particularly about
the mouth of the Calabar river, hence its common
name Calabar bean (Daniel 1846). The seed of
physostigma which was used by the native of old
Calabar as an ordeal poison to justify persons
accused of witchcraft or other crimes (Balfour 1860)
are also used internally to alloy tension (Laura 2003).
It is also used to reduce tension caused by irritation,
to treat tetanus, epilepsy, convulsion, glaucoma,
photophobia, ulcer, ocula, tension caused by
atropine, phatom tumor etc (Finely 1919). The extract
of the Calabar bean is an alkaloid that has been used
th
since mid 19 century for Ophthalmologic treatment
(Nhi-ha et al 2003). Phytochemicals like tanines,
alkaloids, phenols, saponines and flavonoids have
been isolated from physostigma venenosum. The
227
13
RESULTS
Characterization: Compound X labeled 1K-B was a
light brown gummy substance with Rf of 0.67. Its
molecular
composition
was
C42H55O17N
as
determined by mass M/Z 847(m-2) calculated
1
13
845,base peak of 657 m/z, IR, NMR of H, C,
COSY and HSQC.
-1
The IR spectrum of 1K-B measured in cm indicates
absorption at 3093.6 for aromatic carbon (Ar-c)
2925.2(C-H)
stretching,
2854(C-H)
aliphatic,
indicating pressure of the CH3,CH2.1796(C=O) sand
witching, 1676.3(C=O), 1589.4(C=C-C=C) aromatic
ring conjugated, and 1573.3 conjugated ring. At
finger print region we have 1420(C-H) aromatic
bending, 1300 (N-O) aromatic and 850 substituted C1
H of the aromatic ring. H NMR showed presence of
methine hydrogen at [H:7.723(s), 7.527(t)7.263(m),
7.516(d/d)4.234(m), 7.534(d), 7.705(s), 7.546(m), 7.693(d/d),
7.712(q) with integral values of one hydrogen each.
Methylene
protons
were
shown
at
(H:3.018(s),2.643(d/d), 2.743(s), 2.894(s)]. Methyl proton
was shown at [H:1.567(d)] and methoxy proton at
[H:2.037(s)] while chemical shifts for sugar moity
were found at the dwarf peaks of [H:4.700H:6.818].
13c
1h
68.16
165.00
182.00
200.00
114.02
128.80
130.98
85.03
60.50
80.20
80.30
77.44
98.00
132.44
152.02
98.88
112.00
116.38
122.50
167.78
152.85
66.92
76.60
28.93
23.74
29.37 to
38.72
3.018
Int
value
2H
7.723
1H
7.527
2.643
7.263
7.516
4.234
7.534
t
d/d
M
d/d
m
d
7.705
7.546
7.693
7.712
s
m
d/d
q
1H
2H
1H
1H
1H
1H
1H
1H
1H
1H
1H
1H
2.742
2.894
2.034
1.569
4,7000 to
6.818
s
s
s
d
2H
2H
3H
3H
228
Table II: Percentage of Cholinesterase inhibition of crude fractions compared with Huperzin A Unit
Factions
o
Ethanol (F )
A
Chloroform (IF )
A
Methanol (2f )
B
Pet-ether (2f )
10Mg/Ml
20Mg/Ml
30Mg/Ml
Remark
28.020.6
69.130.5
94.460.01
65.410.11
70.307
99.610.001
64.7 0.1
69.340.65
95.500.02
5.501
18.540.2
22.970.05
25
CH3
12
11
13
24
OCH3
14
19
10
18
15
20
23
1 6
(b)
H3 CO
17
22
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
OCH3
21
Com pound X
H
H
(a)
H
OCH3
OCH3
Sangainarine - N-diglycoside
229
REFERENCES
B
CONCLUSION
230