A Preliminary Phytochemical Investigation Of Croton Macrostachyus Stem Bark

Abstract

During a preliminary investigation of the petroleum ether extract of C. macrostaohyus stem bark,three compounds were isolated;- lupeol; a compound with a probable terpenoid structure; and an aliphatic compound containing a carbonyl function. In addition, betulin was identified. An account is given, of the use of various croton species in traditional herbal medicine in Africa, and of the work reported on croton genus during 1974 - 1976. Work done on C. mactrostachyus uptill 1984 is also given.