ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF STEROIDS IN THE ROOT BACK OF Balanite egyptiaca

M.U. Muhammad., M. Musa., L. Abubakar. and A. Shehu

Department of Chemistry

Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, Nigeria

E-mail: mumshag2012@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

A steroids is a types of organic compounds that contains a characteristics arrangement of four cycloalkanes rings that are joined to each other, steroids are use in the field of medicinal chemistry due to their therapeutic values. The root bark of Balanite egyptiaca plant was investigated phytochemically using standard procedure. The dark gummy residues were subjected to column chromatography, TLC, IR, GC-MS and NMR analysis. The results of phytochemical screening indicate the presence of Tannins, Flavonoids, Cardiac glycosides, Saponins and Steroides. The dark gummy residue were also subjected to column chromatography and gave two fractions which each on TLC shows two spots on chromatogram. The IR indicated the presence of different functional groups such as O-H, =C-H, C≡C, C=O and C-H. The GC-MS and NMR analysis indicated the presence of Esterone, Estra-1, 3, 5-(10)-trien-3-ol, Ethinyl Estradiol which are classified as contraceptics and were use in pharmaceutical companies for formulation of drugs.