Immunostimulant activity of steroid compound from the indonesian silver fern (P. calomelanos)

Abstract

A secondary metabolite in steroid compound, namely β-sitosterol had been isolated from the n-hexane extract of the Indonesian silver fern. Extraction was conducted by maceration method, separation by chromatography techniques (vacuum liquid chromatography and flash chromatography), purification by recrystallization, and identification of its molecular structure by the spectroscopic methods and by comparison with reported literature data. The steroid isolate was yielded as colorless amorphous powder (melting point of 136– 137 °C). Based on the carbon clearance method, isolated steroid showed immunostimulant activity with phagocytosis index of 1.625.