Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical investigations on the leaves of mallotus philippinensis muell Arg

In the present work leaves of M. Philippinensis Muell. Arg. has been subjected to pharmacognostical and phytochemical investigations. The anatomical characteristics of the leaf showed the typical tissue layer as is found in dorsiventral leaf. The petroleum ether extract showed the presence of free sterols i.e. sitosterol and this was found to be 0.55%. The phenolic acid found was p-coumaric acid which was identified by paper chromatography, melting point and U.V. spectra. A phloroglucinol dervative rottlerin was isolated and characterized from the pericarp of Mallotus philippinensis