Chemotaxonomic studies on Tragia involucrata Linn.

In the present work a common plant in and around trichy, botanically equated as Tragia involucrata Linn belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, has been studied from chemotaxonomic point of view. The study explained the identification and characterization of the compounds isolated from this plant. The chloroform extract of T. involucrata L was subjected to FT-IR and GC-MS to identify the compounds present in it. The compounds identified were Ar- Tumerone; 9, 10 Anthracenedione 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl; Friedelane-3-one. The therapeutic potentials of the active principles identified were already assessed. Ar-Tumerone was already reported from Curcuma longa L and the antibacterial and wound healing activity of this compound was well established. Chemistry of T. involucrata L reported in this present work can contribute significantly in providing chemical evidence in support of its inclusion in the family Euphorbiaceae and assigning the position to the genus Tragia. © 2009 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords : Tragia involucrata, Chemotaxonomic studies, Ar-Tumerone.