Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compound from Euphorbia pulcherrima (Wild) Leaves

Medicinal plants have played vigorous role in life of humans also used to treat several diseases. Poinsettia is a popular ornamental crop, mostly during the Christmas season also known as the Christmas Flower. The dried powder of Euphorbia pulcherrima was subjected to soxhlet extraction by using solvent like water, methanol and petroleum ether. This extracts yielded terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponin, and steroids, triterpenes. These were identified as germanicol acetate, germanicol, brain, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosteryl 3-d-glucoside, and rutin. The isolated beta-sitosterol from fraction of ether extract has been characterized by thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Nuclear magnetic resonance. Therefore, it is needed to isolate and detect more bioactive constituents and clarify their structure, activity, with this plant. It is also highlighted for more detailed research and clinical trials to explore its pharmacological activity and clinical efficacy.