Isolation of Sesquiterpene from the Leaves Extract of Vernonia Amygdalina and Its Acute Toxicity to the Albino Mice

Vernonia amygdalina is a shrub or small tree which is widely used traditional medicinal plant for the treatment of schistomiasis, amoebic dysentery, malaria, veneral diseases, wounds, hepatitis and diabetes and gastrointestinal problems. The objective of this study was to extract, isolate and determine the structure of the constituents of biologically active crude extracts of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina and its toxicity investigation on albino mice. Extraction was carried out by maceration; isolation and characterization were carried out by using chromatographic and spectroscopic technique respectively. The screening of secondary metabolites showed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, phenols, saponin, steroids and glycosides in methanol extract. Fractionation of crude extract was carried by using column chromatography. The isolation result afforded sesquiterpene which was elucidated by using spectroscopic methods (IR, 1H NMR, 13 C NMR and DEPT 135). The acetone extract showed toxicity at higher dosage with LD50=824.6 mg/Kg but methanol extract did not show any toxicity up to 2000 mg/Kg to the albino mice. Due to high applicability of the plant a number of isolated compounds and chronic toxicity should be carried out for further information. Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina; sesquiterpene; toxicity; albino mic