Isolation, characterization of sesquiterpene parthenin and its estimation from Parthenium hysterophorus pollen

Parthenium hysterophorus is an obnoxious weed spreading all over India. It causes severe allergic diseases like Hay-fever, asthma and dermatitis. The whole plant is allergenic especially pollen grains of this plant are responsible for several allergic diseases. The meager amount of work is available on chemical nature of pollen. Therefore in the present study, isolation, characterization and estimation of sesquiterpene lactone, parthenin from pollen was carried out. From IR, UV, Mass and PMR spectra and Co-TLC, isolated compound was confirmed as parthenin. It is found to be present in considerable amount in pollen grains of Parthenium.