Abstract

• The present research deals with the isolation and characterization of some chemical constituents of Eulophia campestris W. (Gamon-thanga–zin) rhizomes. Eulophia campestris W. is widely used in Myanmar as the traditional medicine for the diabetes, heart tonic, and aphrodisiac. Semi-quantitative elemental analysis of E. campestris rhizome was carried out by ED-XRF method. From the analysis, the elements of major composition such as K, Fe and Ca and minor composition such as Zn and Cu were observed in the sample. The isolation of some compounds from E. campestris rhizome was performed by column chromatographic method. Firstly, the dried powdered sample of E. campestris (250 g) was extracted with 70 % EtOH at room temperature. The concentrated extracts were partitioned with Pet-ether (60°-80°C) to remove the fat. The defatted residue was then extracted with ethyl acetate in a separating funnel. Ethyl acetate layer was evaporated to obtain a dry extract (4.0 g). After the extraction with ethyl acetate from E. campestris W. crude extract was separated by column chromatographic method on a silica gel column [(Toluene: EtOAc) (95: 5)], as eluent. The eluates were examined under UV lamps (254 nm & 365 nm) and on TLC plates by detecting with anisaldehyde reagent. The fractions with similar Rf values were combined. After combining together similar fractions, the isolated compounds, MM-1, MM-2 and MM-3 were obtained. The isolated compounds were also identified by UV, FT-IR, 1H, 13C NMR and GC-MS method. According to the chemical tests, UV, FT-IR, 1H, 13C NMR, and GC-MS methods, the isolated compounds could be deduced as 1,2-Benzene dicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester (MM-1, 0.01%), 3-cyclohexene-1-ol,5-(2-butenylidene)-4,6,6-trimethyl (MM-2, 0.011 %) and Bis -(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate ester (MM-3, 0.0075%) respectively.