CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF STACHYTARPHETA JAMAICENSIS

Abstract

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis and S. indica, species of the Verbenaceae family, have been shown to consist of five identical carotenoids. Two of these carotenoids were isolated and tentatively identified as β-carotene and lutein while the visible spectra of the other three are reported. A sterol and a plant wax were also isolated and identified as α-spinasterol and pentatriacotane respectively from the plants of S. jamaicensis. The plants of S. jamaicensis have been shown by TLC to consist of several types of alkaloids. However, due to the small amount present in the crude extract, no crystalline and pure alkaloid was obtained