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Principal Constituents:
Chiretta is reported to contain a yellow bitter acid, ophelic
acid, two bitter glucosides, chiratin and amarogentin,
gentiopicrin, two yellow crystalline phenols, a neutral, yellow
crystalline compound, and a new xanthone, swerchirin.
Amarogentin is one of the most bitter substances known1.The
herb contains swertanone, swertenol, episwertinol, chiratenol,
gammacer-16-en-3ß-ol, 21-a-H-hop-22(29)-en-3ß-ol, taraxerol,
oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, swerta-7,9(11)-dien-3ß-ol,
pichierenol, besides ß-amyrin, y-taraxasterol, lupeol and
erythrodiol. It also yields,
1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C-2-ß-D-glucoside (mangiferin)
having a significant immunomodulatory potential. A new xanthone,
1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone (chiratol) besides
swerchirin and 7-O-Me swertiarin and monohydroxy terephthalic
acid and 2,5-dihydroxy terephthalic acid were isolated from the
herb. The herb also yields
1,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone,
1-hydroxy-3,5,8-trimethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxy
xanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-xanthone,
1,8-dihydroxy-3,7- dimethoxy xanthone, 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy
xanthone C-2-ß-D-glucoside (mengiferin), 1,3,8-trihydroxy-5-
methoxy xanthone, 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxy xanthone and 1,3,7,8-
tetrahydroxy xanthone, a novel dimeric xanthone (chiratanin) and
the alkaloids gentianine, gentiocrucine and enicoflavine.
Pharmacology:
The ethanolic extract of S.chirayita
exhibits hypoglycemic activity. The hexane fraction containing
swerchirin, the main hypoglycemic principle, induced a
significant fall in blood sugar in albino rats. The compound may
have clinical application in control of diabetes. It
also possesses anti-microbial activity against gram-negative and
gram-positive bacteria. An herbal antiseptic and antifungal
Veterinary ointment Melicon V is prepared from the herb.
The extract of the plant exhibits a significant
anti-inflammatory activity. The plant extract shows anti-leishmanial
activity against Leishmania donovani in golden hamsters.
Specification:
Standardized to customer Specification
Herbal Extract packing:
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