Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of <i>Morinda lucida </i>(Rubiaceae)

Simon Koma Okwute; Isaacs Okwori Ochi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11

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Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae)

Simon Koma Okwute^*

, Isaacs Okwori Ochi

Published in International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry (Volume 11, Issue 5)

Received: 24 July 2025 Accepted: 11 August 2025 Published: 8 September 2025

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Abstract

Morinda lucida is a medicinal plant popular for its traditional uses in treating several illnesses such as malaria, inflammation, diabetes, jaundice, hypertension, and dysentery. Recently, the leaf which is the most commonly used part of the plant in ethnomedicine was reported to possess anti-malarial, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. In this work the bioactive methanol-soluble fraction of the crude leaf extract was investigated for its chemical constituents. The fraction was subjected to column chromatography to give two components, which on FTIR and NMR spectral characterization were identified as phytol and 1,4-polyisoprene. While phytol may occur free in green plants or as a product of alkaline hydrolysis of the chlorophylls, the presence of isoprene or its polymeric derivative in a plant is a rare occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these two compounds from a species of the genus Morinda, and in particular from Morinda lucida. These two identified compounds and the other phytochemicals present in the crude methanol extract have been associated with several biological activities and may account for the ethnomedicinal properties of the leaf of Morinda lucida. Thus, the leaf of Morinda lucida is a potential lead for the development of new drugs for the management of many human ailments. The results of this work may have pharmacological and taxonomic implications.

Published in	International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry (Volume 11, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11
Page(s)	94-107
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Morinda Lucida, Leaf Extracts, Chromatography, Spectral Characterization, Phytol and 1,4-Polyisoprene

References

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Okwute, S. K., Ochi, I. O. (2025). Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae). International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry, 11(5), 94-107. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11

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ACS Style

Okwute, S. K.; Ochi, I. O. Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae). Int. J. Pharm. Chem. 2025, 11(5), 94-107. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11

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AMA Style

Okwute SK, Ochi IO. Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae). Int J Pharm Chem. 2025;11(5):94-107. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11,
  author = {Simon Koma Okwute and Isaacs Okwori Ochi},
  title = {Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae)
},
  journal = {International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry},
  volume = {11},
  number = {5},
  pages = {94-107},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpc.20251105.11},
  abstract = {Morinda lucida is a medicinal plant popular for its traditional uses in treating several illnesses such as malaria, inflammation, diabetes, jaundice, hypertension, and dysentery. Recently, the leaf which is the most commonly used part of the plant in ethnomedicine was reported to possess anti-malarial, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. In this work the bioactive methanol-soluble fraction of the crude leaf extract was investigated for its chemical constituents. The fraction was subjected to column chromatography to give two components, which on FTIR and NMR spectral characterization were identified as phytol and 1,4-polyisoprene. While phytol may occur free in green plants or as a product of alkaline hydrolysis of the chlorophylls, the presence of isoprene or its polymeric derivative in a plant is a rare occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these two compounds from a species of the genus Morinda, and in particular from Morinda lucida. These two identified compounds and the other phytochemicals present in the crude methanol extract have been associated with several biological activities and may account for the ethnomedicinal properties of the leaf of Morinda lucida. Thus, the leaf of Morinda lucida is a potential lead for the development of new drugs for the management of many human ailments. The results of this work may have pharmacological and taxonomic implications.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae)

AU  - Simon Koma Okwute
AU  - Isaacs Okwori Ochi
Y1  - 2025/09/08
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11
T2  - International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry
JF  - International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry
JO  - International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry
SP  - 94
EP  - 107
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5749
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11
AB  - Morinda lucida is a medicinal plant popular for its traditional uses in treating several illnesses such as malaria, inflammation, diabetes, jaundice, hypertension, and dysentery. Recently, the leaf which is the most commonly used part of the plant in ethnomedicine was reported to possess anti-malarial, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. In this work the bioactive methanol-soluble fraction of the crude leaf extract was investigated for its chemical constituents. The fraction was subjected to column chromatography to give two components, which on FTIR and NMR spectral characterization were identified as phytol and 1,4-polyisoprene. While phytol may occur free in green plants or as a product of alkaline hydrolysis of the chlorophylls, the presence of isoprene or its polymeric derivative in a plant is a rare occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these two compounds from a species of the genus Morinda, and in particular from Morinda lucida. These two identified compounds and the other phytochemicals present in the crude methanol extract have been associated with several biological activities and may account for the ethnomedicinal properties of the leaf of Morinda lucida. Thus, the leaf of Morinda lucida is a potential lead for the development of new drugs for the management of many human ailments. The results of this work may have pharmacological and taxonomic implications.

VL  - 11
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Simon Koma Okwute

Department of Chemistry, University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria

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http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4144-8525
Isaacs Okwori Ochi

Department of Chemistry, University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria

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APA Style

Okwute, S. K., Ochi, I. O. (2025). Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae). International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry, 11(5), 94-107. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11

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ACS Style

Okwute, S. K.; Ochi, I. O. Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae). Int. J. Pharm. Chem. 2025, 11(5), 94-107. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11

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AMA Style

Okwute SK, Ochi IO. Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae). Int J Pharm Chem. 2025;11(5):94-107. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11,
  author = {Simon Koma Okwute and Isaacs Okwori Ochi},
  title = {Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae)
},
  journal = {International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry},
  volume = {11},
  number = {5},
  pages = {94-107},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpc.20251105.11},
  abstract = {Morinda lucida is a medicinal plant popular for its traditional uses in treating several illnesses such as malaria, inflammation, diabetes, jaundice, hypertension, and dysentery. Recently, the leaf which is the most commonly used part of the plant in ethnomedicine was reported to possess anti-malarial, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. In this work the bioactive methanol-soluble fraction of the crude leaf extract was investigated for its chemical constituents. The fraction was subjected to column chromatography to give two components, which on FTIR and NMR spectral characterization were identified as phytol and 1,4-polyisoprene. While phytol may occur free in green plants or as a product of alkaline hydrolysis of the chlorophylls, the presence of isoprene or its polymeric derivative in a plant is a rare occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these two compounds from a species of the genus Morinda, and in particular from Morinda lucida. These two identified compounds and the other phytochemicals present in the crude methanol extract have been associated with several biological activities and may account for the ethnomedicinal properties of the leaf of Morinda lucida. Thus, the leaf of Morinda lucida is a potential lead for the development of new drugs for the management of many human ailments. The results of this work may have pharmacological and taxonomic implications.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Identification of Phytol and Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene from the Leaf Extracts of Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae)

AU  - Simon Koma Okwute
AU  - Isaacs Okwori Ochi
Y1  - 2025/09/08
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11
T2  - International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry
JF  - International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry
JO  - International Journal of Pharmacy and Chemistry
SP  - 94
EP  - 107
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5749
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpc.20251105.11
AB  - Morinda lucida is a medicinal plant popular for its traditional uses in treating several illnesses such as malaria, inflammation, diabetes, jaundice, hypertension, and dysentery. Recently, the leaf which is the most commonly used part of the plant in ethnomedicine was reported to possess anti-malarial, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. In this work the bioactive methanol-soluble fraction of the crude leaf extract was investigated for its chemical constituents. The fraction was subjected to column chromatography to give two components, which on FTIR and NMR spectral characterization were identified as phytol and 1,4-polyisoprene. While phytol may occur free in green plants or as a product of alkaline hydrolysis of the chlorophylls, the presence of isoprene or its polymeric derivative in a plant is a rare occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these two compounds from a species of the genus Morinda, and in particular from Morinda lucida. These two identified compounds and the other phytochemicals present in the crude methanol extract have been associated with several biological activities and may account for the ethnomedicinal properties of the leaf of Morinda lucida. Thus, the leaf of Morinda lucida is a potential lead for the development of new drugs for the management of many human ailments. The results of this work may have pharmacological and taxonomic implications.

VL  - 11
IS  - 5
ER  -

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