ESTROGENIC ACTIVITY OF ISOFLAVONOID OBTAINED FROM LAWSONIA INERMIS

An isoflavonoid has been isolated from the stem extract of Lawsonia inermis Linn. (Lythraceae). The isoflavonoid tested on female albino rats, showed estrogenic activity by increasing uteri weight from 16.5 ± 0.28 mg in control to 34.4 ± 0.69 mg in orally treated rats. Air-dried and powdered stem of Lawsonia inermis was extracted with hot rectified spirit. The extract obtained was evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained was subjected to successive extraction with petrolium ether, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The residue of the methanol extract was subjected to column chromatography over silica gel column with chloroformmethanol mixtures. The 7:3 chloroform-methanol elute was distilled in order to remove the solvent affording pale yellow crystals of compound. The compound has been identified as the isoflavonoid genistein by the joint application of chemical methods and spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR). The compound was obtained as a pale yellow mass, which was re-crystallised by methanol, analysed for C15H10O5 m.p, 285-287.The crude extract and methanol solution of the compound on screening by “four day uterine weight assay” showed positive estrogenic activity. Result showed the dose dependent estrogenic activity of compound by increasing uterine weight from 15.6 ± 0.26 mg in orally treated female albino rats (1.25 mg/kg/day for four days).