Abstract

Boscia senegalensis leaves which were traditionally used to relief intestinal pain in Sudan were tested for secondary metabolites and cytotoxic effects. The result indicated a moderate presence of alkaloids, highly presence of tannins, weakly presence of flavonoids and steroids and negative results for saponin, phenolic compound and triterpens. Methanolic extract was tested for cytotoxicity against brine shrimp larvae. Remarkable cytotoxicity was revealed with high value equal to 1.975 μg/ml. Also the extract was subjected to separation by column chromatography technique, four fractions were obtained. The fractions tested for cytotoxicity against brine shrimp larvae again. F1, F2, F3and F4 represented high values equal to 66.13. 11.07, 1.74 and 99.41 μg/ml respectively. F3 with high cytotoxicity was chosen for gas chromatography / mass spectrometry analysis. Thirtyfive compounds were not recorded in any previous work in available literature were obtained. The high cytotoxicity of this fraction due to presence of octadecenoic and n-hexadecenoic acid which are known to have anticancer activity. Also presence of tramadol may increase the cytotoxicity, which was found to cure sever and moderate pain. Amazingly B.seneglansis leaves were used in folkloric medicine in some parts of Sudan for intestinal pain without any knowledge of their chemical constituents. Moreover D.allose sugar (3.67) was increase toxicity of this fraction since it had promising antitumor proliferation and apoptotic activity.