Search for polyisoprenoids in the flowers and fruits of selected coastal plants using two-dimensional thin layer chromatography

Abstract

Coastal plants are recognized to yield secondary metabolites including polyisoprenoid alcohols. Coastal plants have been shown to have biological and phytochemical activities. The present study reports the search for polyisoprenoids composition from flowers and fruits of selected coastal plants, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Guettarda speciosa, and Jatropha curcas. A two-dimensional thin layer chromatography (2D-TLC) was used to analyse the composition and occurrence of polyisoprenoid alcohols (polyprenols and dolichols) in coastal plants. The distribution of polyprenols and dolichols in the flowers and fruits were detected and classified into one type only, type-II. Type-II, having the presence of both polyprenols and dolichols, was found in all samples investigated: in the flowers and fruits of A. paeoniifolius, G. spiciosa, and J. curcas. It is interesting to note that no dominating dolichols over polyprenols (type-I) or predominance polyprenol over dolichols (type-III) detected in this study. The present study, therefore, suggested the diversity of polyisoprenoids in the generative tissues of tropical coastal plants.