Evaluation of Activity of <i>Cassia Occidentalis</i> Leaf Extracts

Abstract

Air dried leaves of Cassia occidentalis were ground and percolated with 95 % ethanol. The ethanol extract (CO1) was partitioned sequentially with n – hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol (60 %). These were labeled CO1-1, CO1-2, CO1-3 and CO1-4 respectively. Each of these fractions was screened for the presence of secondary metabolites. The fractions were subjected to antiretroviral bioassay. Fraction CO1 was found to be the most active against the most active against the virus. CO1 (10 g) was further subjected to column chromatography which yielded two pure white powdery solid compounds named CO1-01A (62.15 mg) and CO1-01B (6.18 mg). Secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, steroids, tannins and saponins were found to be present. CO1 fraction at a low concentration of 1.25 mg/cm³ showed an antiretroviral activity of 94.13 % compared to Nevilast-30 (an active drug) with antiretroviral activity of 96.19 %, used as positive control. ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, FTIR and mass spectra of the compound CO1-01A suggest its structure to be 2, 3-dichloro-1, 4-dioxane. This study supports the traditional use of Cassia occidentalis leaves for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in different regions of the world.

Keywords: Antiretroviral, Cassia occidentalis, HIV/AIDS, Phytochemical, Secondary metabolites