Smooth muscle contracting lipid-soluble principles in chromatographic fractions of Ocimum gratissimum.

Fractions isolated from Ocimum gratissimum leaves by lipid extraction and column- and thin-layer chromatography have been shown to contain components which contract guinea pig ileum, rat colon and raise rat mean arterial blood pressure. TLC analysis indicates that these compounds are fairly polar. Analysis of one of the components by mass spectra shows the presence of an unknown with a molecular mass of at least 353 daltons containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and possibly nitrogen. A tentative molecular formula, as deduced from computer analysis, is either C21H37O4 or C19H35N3O3.