49 http://jsrr.in Science Research Reporter 1(2):49-52, Sept. 2011 ISSN: 2249-2321 (Print) Chemical Investigations of Polygala Chinensis L. by GC-MS Alagammal M 1 , Tresina Soris P 2 and Mohan V R 2 * 1 Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu. 2 Ethnopharmacology unit, Research Department of Botany, V.O.Chidambaram College, Tuticorin-628008, Tamil Nadu, India. * vrmohan_2005@yahoo.com ABSTRACT In the present study, the bioactive components of Polygala chinensis whole plant have been evaluated using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrum (GC-MS). Fourteen compounds in ethanolic extract were identified. 1, 5–Anhydro-d-mannitol (92.30%) was the prevailing compound in ethanolic extract, which is suggested to be an anticancer compound. This is the first report of identification of active constituents from whole plant of Polygala chinensis. Key words: 1, 5–Anhydro-d-mannitol, phytol, GC-MS, Polygala chinensis, anti-cancer. INTRODUCTION Polygala chinensis L. belongs to Polygalaceae faŵily. It is coŵŵoŶly kŶowŶ as “iriyaŶaŶgai. GeŶus Polygala is an annual, diffuse herb, 10-25cm tall. Flowers are papilionaceous, primary root orange, stems woody at base, branches terate, crisped pubescent. Leaf blade green, obovate, elliptic or lanceolate, 2.6-10x1- 1.5cm, papery, pubescent, inflorescence raceme, super- axillary, rarely axillary, shorter than leaves, densely few flowered. Flowers 4-5mm long, sepals 5, persistent, green, ciliate, outer sepals 3, ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate; inner sepals 2, petaloid, falcate, petals 3, connate at base, yellowish or white with pink, lateral petals shorter than keel, inside with fascicled white hairs at base. Stamens 8, ovary compressed- orbicular. Polygala was traditionally used by Americans to treat snake bites (McGuffin et al. 1997) and as an expectorant to treat cough and bronchitis. Polygala is considered as a powerful tonic herb (Teeguarden 1998) that can help to develop the mind and aid in creative thinking. Taking into consideration of the medicinal importance of Polygala chinensis, the ethanolic extract of whole plant of Polygala chinensis were analyzed for the first time using GC-MS. This work will help to identify the compounds of therapeutic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of plant sample Whole plant of Polygala chinensis were collected from Vadavalli, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. Plant sample extraction Leaves were cleaned, shade dried and pulverized to powder in a mechanical grinder. Required quantity of powder was weighed and transferred to Stoppard flask, and treated with ethanol until the powder is fully immersed. The flask was shaken every hour for the first 6 hrs and then it was kept aside and again shaken after 24 hrs. This process was repeated for 3 days and then the extract was filtered. The extract was collected and evaporated to dryness by using vacuum distillation unit. The final residue thus obtained was then subjected to GC-MS analysis. GC-MS analysis GC-MS analysis of these extracts was carried out by following the method of Hema et al. (2010). GC- MS analysis were performed using a Perkin-Elmer GC clauses 500 system and Gas chromatograph interfaced to a Mass spectrometer (GC-MS) equipped with a Elite-I, fused silica capillary column (30m x 0.25 mm ID x 1 µ df), composed of 100% Dimethyl poly siloxane). For GC/MS detection, an electron ionization system with ionizing energy of 70 eV was used. Helium gas (99.999%) was used as the carrier gas at constant flow rate 1ml/min and an injection volume of 2 µl was employed split ratio of 10:1) injector temperature 250 0 C; ion-source temperature 280 0 C. The oven temperature was programmed from 110 0 C (isothermal for 2 min) with an increase of 10 0 C / min to 2000 0 C, then 5 0 C/min to 280 0 C, ending with a 9 min isothermal at 280 0 C. Mass spectra were taken at 70 eV; a scan interval of 0.5 seconds and fragments from 45 to 450 Da. Total GC running time was 36 minutes. The relative % amount of each component was calculated by comparing its average peak area to the total areas, software adopted to handle mass spectra and chromatograms was a Turbo mass. Identification of components Interpretation on mass spectrum GC-MS was conducted using the database of National Institute Standard and Technology (NIST) having more than 62,000 patterns. The spectrum of the unknown component was compared with the spectrum of the