ABSTRACT

Study was undertaken with an objective to develop a simple method for isolation of ursolic acid from Nerium indicum Mill leaves and to prepare synthetic derivatives of ursolic acid. The leaves were defatted with petroleum ether and then extracted with methanol. Methanol extract was basified and subsequently acidified, followed by charcoal treatment to isolate ursolic acid. Synthetic derivatives were prepared from isolated ursolic acid by substitution at C-3 position. The structure of ursolic acid and its derivatives were confirmed by IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR studies.