FREE VITAMIN-D-3 METABOLITES IN CESTRUM-DIURNUM LEAVES

The occurrence of free and glycosidic vitamin D-3 and its metabolites in Cestrum diurnum leaves was investigated. The chloroform extract of the leaves (containing free vitamin D-3 and its metabolites) and the chloroform-methanol (1:2) extract (containing glycosidic vitamin D-3 and its metabolites) of the residue after glycosidase treatment were partially purified by column chromatography. Fractions corresponding to authentic vitamin D-3, 25-hydroxy vitamin D-3 (25-OH-D-3) and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D-3 (1,25-(OH)(2)D-3) were found to be biologically active. These fractions were also analysed and quantified by HPLC. This is the first demonstration of the presence of free vitamin D-3, 25-OH-D-3 and 1,25-(OH)(2)D-3 in a calcinogenic plant. Apart from the free forms, the corresponding glycosidic metabolites were also found. The concentration of free metabolites was much higher than that of the glycosidic forms.