Investigation on The Stem Bark of Trema orientalis

Abstract

A chemical investigation was conducted on the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the stem bark of Trema orientalis. This led to the isolation of seven methyl ester of fatty acids hexadecanoic, (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic, (Z)-9-octadecenoic, octadecanoic, eicosanoic, docosanoic and tetracosanoic. Two triterpenoids identified as β-sitosterol and 3β-acetoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid were isolated. The methyl ester of fatty acids were identified by GC-MS while the triterpenoid compounds were identified using NMR and infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The identification of 3β-acetoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid was verified by comparing it to the authentic 3β-acetoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid synthesized from the acetylation of ursolic acid.