Abstract
Plumbagin, the major active compound and a potential biomarker characteristically found to be present in different Plumbaginales, is isolated by an austere and efficient method involving column chromatography. A literature survey suggests that the roots of Plumbago rosea. Linn. are the richest source of plumbagin. Chemically identified as a naphthoquinone, the compound is claimed to sublime at 90°C. This disposition of the compound correlates with the implication of cold maceration employed in isolation methodology for extraction of root powder with acetone. Plumbagin, being hydrophobic and insoluble in water, was precipitated out by addition of water to the acetone extract. The filtered residue was taken in chloroform, and the concentrated chloroform extract, when subjected to column chromatography, yielded plumbagin (1.65%), elution being carried out with n-hexane:ethyl acetate (92:8). The identity of the compound was confirmed by melting point data, UV, IR, and mass spectral data reported in the literature. The purity of the compound was further analyzed by subjecting the compound to HPTLC studies.