Abstract

Following a complete chemical profile of methanolic extracts of Ceratotheca triloba roots, stems, flowers and leaves, the predominant compounds were isolated, and characterized by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) and identified by UV, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and EI-LC-MS.Three anthraquinone derivatives; 9, 10 anthracenedione; 1-hydroxy-4-methylanthraquinone;and 5,8-dimethoxy-2, 3, 10, 10a-tetrahydro-1H-phenanthrene-4, 9-dione and also a steroid; androst-5-ene-3, 17, 19-triol were isolated from the roots of C. triloba. Of these, 9, 10 anthracenedione and 1 hydroxy -4-methylanthraquinone showed antibacterial and anti-oxidant activity, and showed potent inhibition of the human topoisomerase II enzyme. This enzyme, in a normal cells causes the unwinding of the DNA and is also structurally similar to commercial anti-cancer compound mitoxanthrone which is also an anthracenedione.

Key words: Anthraquinone, 9, 10 anthracenedione, 1 hydroxy -4 methylanthraquinone.