Hexacosonate of euphorbol fromEuphorbia jaxartica

Abstract

We haw~ previously reported the isolation from the epigeal part of E. jaxartica Benth of the triterpene compounds euphol, euphorbol, and fl-sitosterol [1].We have now investigated the roots of E. iaxartica collected in the Syr'dar'ya region in the flowering stage of the plant. The comminuted roots were extracted with chloroform. After the solvent had been distilled off, the residue was treated with acetone, and the acetone-soluble part was separated into two fractions: soluble and insoluble in petroleum ether. By chromatography on alumina, the soluble fraction yielded euphol, euphorbol, and fl-sitosterol. The insoluble fraction was dissolved in a small amount of chloroform, the solution was passed through a column of alumina, and elution was carried out with a mixture of chloroform and increasing amounts of ether.