Pharmaco-chemical investigations of plantago ovata aerial parts

The ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Plantago ovata was successively fractionated into ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol- ethyl acetate [5:1] soluble fractions. The phenolic fraction of the ether extract afforded the coumarins; imperatorin, xanthotoxin, bergapten, umbeliferone, xanthtoxol and marmesin. The unsaponifiable fraction revealed high percentage of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, while the saponifiable part indicated high percentage of palmitolenic and palmitic acids. The ethyl acetate extract afforded a major compound identified as verbascoside and four flavonoids identified as luteolin-7-0-beta-glucopyranoside, luteolin-4-0-beta- glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-0-rhamnoside and the highly methoxylated calycopterin. Also, the n-butanol-ethyl acetate extract showed the same compound verbascoside as a major component. All isolated compounds were identified by chemical and spectral methods of analysis. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanolic extract fractions [Et2O, EtOAc and n-BuOH-EtOAc] and the major constituent verbascoside were determined on rats