Isolation and Identification of Nicotiflorin from the Leaves of Costus spectabilis (Fenzl) K. Schum

Costus spectabilis is a rhizomatous geophyte used by traditional medicine to treat internal and external wounds, coughs, inflammation, arthritis, rheumatism, fever, maternal and neonatal infections. It is also recommended for its laxative, purgative, diuretic and ichthyotoxic properties. A phytochemical study of the leaves of Costus spectabilis, revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols and triterpenes, coumarins, reducing compounds, oses and holosides. The combination of chromatographic (CC and TLC), 1D NMR spectral (1H, 13C), 2D (COZY and HMQC) and spectrometric (ESI-MS positive mode) techniques allowed the isolation and identification of kaempferol 3- O- (6- O- (α-L-rhamnosyl) β-D-glucoside or nicotiflorin of the methanol extract of the leaves of Costus spectabilis.