Antitubercular constituents from the hexane fraction of Morinda citrifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae)

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>A crude ethanol extract and hexane fraction from <jats:italic>Morinda citrifolia</jats:italic> Linn. (Rubiaceae) show antitubercular activity. The major constituents of the hexane fraction are <jats:italic>E</jats:italic>‐phytol, cycloartenol, stigmasterol, β‐sitosterol, campesta‐5,7,22‐trien‐3β‐ol and the ketosteroids stigmasta‐4‐en‐3‐one and stigmasta‐4‐22‐dien‐3‐one. <jats:italic>E</jats:italic>‐Phytol, a mixture of the two ketosteroids, and the epidioxysterol derived from campesta‐5,7,22‐trien‐3β‐ol all show pronounced antitubercular activity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.