Isolation and characterization of steroids from Calligonum polygonoides

Aim Calligonum polygonoides Linn. (Polygonaceae) is commonly known as ‘Phog’ contains number of phytochemical constituents' viz. flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, tannins, steroids, phenols, carbohydrates, terpenoids etc. The aim of the present study was to isolate and characterize steroids from the roots of C. polygonoides. Method Methanol extract of the roots of plant was subjected to column chromatography and eluted with solvent mixtures of increasing polarity, composed of chloroform, chloroform–ethyl acetate mixtures and ethyl acetate to isolate phytochemical constituents. The identities of these compounds were checked by solubility, preliminary phytochemical test, melting point determination and TLC study. Finally the structure was elucidated by different chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Results On the basis of chemical and spectral evidence and upon comparison with the literature data, the isolated compounds were identified as campesterol (1), stigmasterol (2), (3β,5α,24S)-stigmastan-3-ol (3) and stigmast-4-en-3-one (4). Conclusion The steroids were isolated from the roots of C. polygonoides may serve as a potential source of useful drugs in the near future. The steroids were isolated first time from this plant extract.