HEBA R MOHAMED, EMAN A EL WAKIL, MAHER M EL HASHASH, EL SAYED S ABDEL HAMEED
Acta Pharmaceutica Sciencia - 2023;61(3):213-233
Ailanthus altissima Swingle (Simaroubaceae), the tree of heaven, is characterized by its vast pharmacological potential beside its rich and diverse phytochemical profile. The plant leaves dry powder was extracted with 85% aqueous methanol and the crude extract was then fractionated in sequence with petroleum ether, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The bioactive phytochemicals were separated from the ethyl acetate and the n-butanol fractions through column chromatography (CC) and quantified through HPLC-DAD. The chemical structure of the isolated pure compounds was identified through UV-Vis, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and TLC-MS spectroscopic analyses. The antioxidant activity of the pure compounds was estimated through their scavenging potential of DPPH. Nine compounds were isolated and structurally elucidated as corilagin, astragalin, ellagic acid, gallic acid, isoquercetin, cynaroside, tellimoside, quercetin and luteolin. Ellagic acid, gallic acid and corilagin exhibited potent antioxidant activity. Corilagin derived from A. altissima can serve as potent natural antioxidant alternative.
