Isolation of a sterol from root of Mucuna pruriens

Mucuna pruriens belongs to the family Fabaceae significantly used in Indian traditional system for their aphrodisic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antihyperlipidimic, anticancer and various other human ailments. The biological activity of mucuna roots has been reported in various research papers. The present paper reveals the isolation of a sterol. On the basis of spectral data and chemical reactions, the structure of compound was elucidated as 3β-benzoxy-stigmast 5-ene.