Planta Med 2010; 76 - P17
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1251779

Differentiating the Gum Resins of Two Indian Gardenias (Rubiaceae) and a Market Sample by HPLC-UV Analysis

L Suryanarayana 1, AS Prabhakar 2, G Sreekanth 1, B Ravi Kumar 1, AVN Appa Rao 1
  • 1University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kakatiya University, Warangal-506009, India
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vagdevi College of Pharmacy, Warangal-506009, India

'Dikamali' is a yellowish-green gum resin with a disagreeable odor. It is sold in herbal shops in different parts of India. It is obtained from leaf buds/stalks of either Gardenia lucida or Gardenia gummifera. Both these plants as well as their gum resins are called by the common name Dikamali [1]. Thus botanical source of this gum resin is ambiguous. Dikamali is claimed to be useful in treating dyspepsia, flatulence and to clean foul ulcers. It is also claimed to have antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant and anthelmenthic properties. It is claimed to be useful in veterinary medicine. It is also a component of Ayurvedic formulation, „Unmadnashak Ghrita“ [2].

Earlier chemical investigations of Dikamali resulted in the isolation of a number of flavanoids [3–8]. Recently, we reported on the isolation of new cycloartanes from this source [9]. Since the botanical source of Dikamali gum resin is ambiguous, a HPLC study was undertaken to establish its botanical source. Gum resins were collected from leaf buds/stalks of botanically authenticated G. lucida and G. gummifera. HPLC-UV analysis of the benzene extracts of these gum resins along with that of a market sample of Dikamali was carried out on reverse phase (C-18) column using methanol:water and acetonitrile:water of different proportions for elution. We present the following findings obtained during our study:

  • The chemical composition of the Gum resins of G. lucida and G. gummifera is different, especially with respect to flavanoids.

  • Dikamali gum resin resembles the gum resin of G. lucida in its chemical composition.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Dr. BV Adavi Rao for collection of gum resins. References: [1] Kirtikar KR, Basu BD, (1987) 'Indian Medicinal Plants'; Vol-II, International Book Distributors, Dehradun, 11–28. [2] Achliya GS, Wadodkar SG, et al. (2004)J Ethnopharmcol. 94(1): 77–83. [3] Rama Rao AV, et al. (1970) Indian J Chem 8: 398. [4] Krishnamurti M, et al. (1971) Indian J Chem 9: 189. [5] Krishnamurti M, et al. (1972) Indian J Chem 10: 23. [6] Gupta SR, et al. (1975) Indian J Chem 13: 785. [7] Chhabra SC, et al., (1976) Indian J Chem 14B: 651. [8] Chatterjee A, et al. (1980) Indian J Chem 19B: 421. [9] Kunert O, et al. (2009) Chem Bio 6(8): 1185.