Chromatographic and spectroscopic studies on the constituents in male and female flowers of Hagenia abyssinica.

The phenolic constituents of male and female flowers of Hagenia abyssinica were examined using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Chromatographic analysis of kosins (phloroglucinols) was carried out using TLC, reversed-phase LC and glass-capillary GLC. Purification of the crude kosins was effected by silica gel column chromatography and purification of phenolic acids using ion-exchange resins and preparative TLC on silica gel. The kosins were characterized by TLC, LC, UV, IR, MS and H1 NMR spectroscopy while the phenolic acids were characterized by UV-spectroscopy, TLC and LC. The phenolic acids found were protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid. The content of the kosins and phenolic acids was established quantitatively for both male and female flowers.