4 Stigmasterol may be useful in prevention of certain cancers, including ovarian, prostate, breast, and colon cancers. It possesses potent antioxidant, hypoglycemic and thyroid inhibiting properties. 5 and 6 Stigmast-4-en-3-one show orally hypoglycaemic

agent and necessary intermediate in the metabolism of β-sitosterol. 7 (3β,5α,24S)-stigmastan-3-ol also reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the diet. 8 The genus Calligonum belongs to the family Polygonaceae, comprises of about 80 species and is found Crizotinib supplier in many countries such as Northern Africa, Southern Europe and Western Asia. Calligonum polygonoides Linn. is known for its medicinal properties. The flowers of C. polygonoides are useful against cough, asthma and cold. The juice of shoot is applied to the eyes as an antidote to scorpion

sting, a roots decoction mixed with catechu is used as gargle for sore gum, and the latex is used for treating eczema, to cure bites of rabid dogs and to induce abortion. Methanol extract of the C. polygonoides showed strong toxicity in brine-shrimp lethality test. 9 Phytochemical check details screening of C. polygonoides shows positive results for flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, tannins, steroids, phenols, carbohydrates and terpenoids. 10 The essential oil from buds and roots of C. polygonoides contain a complex mixture of terpenoids, hydrocarbons, phenolic compounds, acid derivatives and ketones. The literature survey revealed that the Calligonolides, crotamiton tetracosan-4-olide, steroidal ester, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol glucoside and ursolic acid isolated from C. polygonoides. 9 The aim of present study was to isolate and identify the steroids from the roots of C. polygonoides. To the best of our knowledge, these steroids (1–4) were found for the first time from this species. Roots of C. polygonoides were collected from Village Mehendri-Jo-Par (longitude: N 25° 34′ 2″ and latitude: E 70° 11′ 20″), District Umerkot in Sindh Province of Pakistan in January 2012. A voucher specimen (15173) of the plant was deposited in the herbarium of Institute of Plant Sciences,

University of Sindh Jamshoro, Pakistan. The plant sample was identified by a Taxonomist of the same institution. The plant material was air dried under normal conditions and ventilated. About 300 g powdered roots of C. polygonoides were macerated in methanol for three days. Occasional shaking and stirring was done. Then extract was filtered using Whatman filter paper. The filtrate was concentrated to dryness under the vacuum. Chemical tests (Salkowski and Liebermann–Burchard reaction) were performed to detect the steroids in the extract. 6 The dried methanol extract was subjected to column chromatography over silica gel (particle size 0.2–0.5 mm, 35–70 mesh ASTM) and gradient elutions were carried out with eluents chloroform, chloroform–ethyl acetate mixtures and ethyl acetate.