Studies on a hyper-haemolytic compound of palmyrah flour (Odiyal)

Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) flour (Odiyal) is well known to contain toxins. A new saponin was isolated from the medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) fraction between 90% - 100% MeOH:EtOAc extract and crystallized. On subjecting to Micro-Time of Flight (Micro-TOF) mass spectrometry it was found to have a molecular weight of 1534, containing the common steroidal aglycone of odiyal of molecular weight 414, 5 ramhnosyl and 1 glucosyl residues. The first fragment corresponding to MW 228 may be an uncommon fatty acid derivative. Testing for haemolysis on human red blood cells (RBC) showed the compound to be hyper-haemolytic with a haemolytic index 37 fold that of the flabelliferin B (F_B) which had been the previously reported steroidal saponin RBC haemolyser with highest activity from palmyrah.

Key words: Palmyrah, odiyal, hyper-haemolytic agent, steroidal saponin derivative

Vidyodaya J. of Sci.. (2009) Vol. 14, pp 79-84