STEROIDAL CONSTITUENTS AND A FATTY ACID ESTER FROM THE FRUIT PEELS OF CITRUS SINENSIS (L.) OSBECK

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae), is distributed in tropical and temperate regions of India, China, Mexico, Congo and East Africa. Its fruit peel is carminative, stomachic, tonic and is used to cure acne, earache, anorexia, colds, coughs and toothache. The essential oil is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and effective to relieve bronchitis, colic, constipation, cramps, depression, fluid retention, gastritis, motion sickness, mouth ulcers, nervous tension, obesity, and stress. The phytochemical investigation of a methanolic extract of the fruit peels of C. sinensis afforded three new compounds, characterized as 11′β-hydroxyl-n-octadecanyl n-hexacosanoate (11′ β-hydroxyl-n-octadecanyl cerotate, 1), stigmast-5-en- 3α-ol-23-one (sinensisterol, 3) and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2′-laurate (β-sitosterol glucosyl laurate, 5) together with the known compounds n-hexacosanoic acid (cerotic acid, 2) and stigmasterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside (4). The structures of the isolated phytoconstituents were established on the basis of spectral data analysis and chemical reactions.