Isolation and Characterization of alfa-sitosterol from Cissampelos pareira Linn

General phytochemical screening of Cissampelospareira(Menispermaceae) revealed thepresence of sterols, polyphenolic compounds, saponins, alkaloids etc. The aim of this study is toidentify and characterize the bioactive principle from the plant. It has wide folk medicinal uses.The isolation and characterization of Phytoconstituent was done from the chloroform extract ofCissampelospareiraLinn. Chloroform extract was subjected to column chromatography andeluted with solvent mixtures of petroleum ether, benzene and chloroform to isolatephytoconstituent. The structure of the isolated compound was established on the basis ofelemental analysis and spectroscopic evidences (IR, UV, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, MS). A sterol, stigmast-5-en-3_-ol was isolated from the chloroform extract of the plant. The yield of thecompound was 0.0042% w/w, m.p. 136- 1380C, Rf value 0.7 in Toluene: diethylether:Cyclohexane (6:3:1). Cissampelospareiracontains _-sitosterol which may be responsible forvarious pharmacological activities of the plant.