ABSTRACT
The timber value of Tectona grandis has been established from decades. Teak is an exotic species cultivated along most parts of tropical regions. Anthocyanins are natural colourants which have raised a growing demand due to their extensive range of colours, innocuous and beneficial health effects. Anthocyanins belong to large group of polyphenolics - flavonoids, which are secondary metabolites synthesized by higher plants. Despite the remarkable application of anthocyanins in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, still it is not properly exploited. In the present study, the bioactive components of Tectona grandis young leaves have been evaluated using Perkin-Elmer Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry. GC-MS analysis revealed the existence of eleven compounds. 5,9-Methanobenzocycloocten-1(2H)-one,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-octahydro-5,10-dihydroxy-3,3,7,7,9- pentamethyl (76.02%) and 1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid,5-[2-(3-furanyl)ethyl]decahydro-1,4a-dimethyl-6- methylene-[1R-(1.alpha.,4a.)] (13.95%). Other compounds present in minor quantities were ledol(0.92%), 3- Buten-2-one,4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)orionone(0.49%),9,12,15 Octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)- or Linolenic acid methyl ester (0.82%), Phytol (0.69%), Cedran-diol, 8S,14- (0.60%), Lupeol (0.71%), 3- Methoxymethyl-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-6,7,8a-tetrahydro-5H-chromene (3.45%) and Retinol(1.27%). This is the first report of identification of active constituents from the young leaves of Tectona grandis.