Wax and resin components ofCalotropis gigantea

Summary

The wax and resin components of the root bark ofCalotropis gigantea have been examined. A substance corresponding to the description of ‘mudarol’ of previous workers could be isolated. However, its properties indicate that it is a triterpene alcohol and not a sterol. β-amyrin is also found as a major component. These two alcohols are present as esters of volatile and non-volatile fatty acids. β-amyrin acetate could be isolated by direct fractional crystallisation. No substance corresponding to the description of “akundarol” of Hill and Sirkar could be found.