ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LUPEOL FROM THE METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF TAPINANTHUS DODONEIFOLIUS GROWING ON VITEX DONIANA

Tapinanthus dodoneifolius belongs to the family Loranthaceae and is widely distributed in West Africa, Europe and Asia, commonly known as mistletoe. It exhibits a wide array of pharmacological activities including antimalarial, 

anticonvulsant, anti- microbial, and is effective in the relief of menstrual and stomach pain. Lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid was isolated for the first time from the methanol leaf extract of Tapinanthus dodoneifolius and characterized by spectral analysis. The presence of lupeol in the leaf extract in appreciable amounts may account for its various biological activities.