Isolation, Characterization, and Evaluation of Anticancer and Antioxidant Bioactive Compounds from Calophyllum inophyllum Leaves

Abstract

Calophyllum inophyllum L., a tropical evergreen tree from the Guttiferae family, has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties, including the treatment of inflammation, infections, and cancer. This study aimed to isolate and characterize bioactive compounds from C. inophyllum leaves and evaluate their anticancer and antioxidant potential. Methanol extraction of the leaves yielded a crude extract, which was partitioned into n-hexane, chloroform, and n-butanol fractions. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids, with the n-butanol fraction exhibiting the highest total phenolic (32.5 μg/g GAE) and flavonoid (130.42 μg/g QE) content. Column chromatography and spectroscopic techniques (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HMBC, HSQC) were employed to isolate and characterize two major compounds: friedelin, a triterpenoid from the n-hexane fraction, and quercitrin, a flavonoid glycoside from the n-butanol fraction.