Abstract:
Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) flour (Odiyal) is well known to contain
toxins. A new saponin was isolated from the medium pressure liquid
chromatography (MPLC) fraction between 90% - 100% MeOH:EtOAc
extract and crystallized. On subjecting to Micro-Time of Flight (Micro- TOF)
mass spectrometry it was found to have a molecular weight of 1534, containing
the common steroidal aglycone of odiyal of molecular weight 414, 5 ramhnosyl
and Iglucosyl residues. The first fragment corresponding to MW 228 may be
an uncommon fatty acid derivative. Testing for haemolysis on human red
blood cells (RBC) showed the compound to be hyper-haemolytic with a
haemolytic index 37 fold that of the flabelliferin B (F B) which had been the
previously reported steroidal saponin RBC haemolyser with highest activity
from palmyrah.
