Preliminary phytochemical investigations on the twigs of croton mastachyus - euphobiaceae family

Abstract

Investigations are going on on the East African Croton species to find out the active components in various parts of each plant. In this project, the petroleum ether extract of ground croton macrostachyus twigs was found to yield crotepoxide as the major component. Thin layer chromatography showed presence of other compounds but these were in very minute quantities that coyld not be isolated. Work is going on to isolate some of these other compounds. A summary of previous investigations on Croton macrostachyus is documented. In addition, a summary of all investigations on other Croton species carried out for the period 1983 - 1984 is given.