Indigenous knowledge offers information and practices that are beneficial in many areas of academia including chemistry through medicinal plant research. Using Indigenous methodologies and perspectives, the goal of this research is to isolate active compounds of traditional Anishinaabe medicinal plants. Looking at plants traditionally used as febrifuge, or fever reducing infusions, this work aims to identify compounds that contain antipyretic and anti-inflammatory qualities. Organic compounds were isolated from three medicinal plants: Comptonia peregrina, Monarda fistulosa, and Thalictrum dasycarpum via soxhlet extraction. Column chromatography was then used to isolate individual compounds from their crude mixtures, as well as prep scale thin layer chromatography (TLC). TLC was used to track purification efforts and help confirm purity of fractions. Fractions believed to be pure were investigated using gas chromotography and liquid chromotography mass spectrometry (GC/MS and LC/MS respectively), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The mass spectrometry data was then analyzed to determine which compounds were present in each plant sample fraction. The anti-inflammatory response of the crude extracts as well as isolated compounds is being investigated.

Characteriazation and investigation of compounds present in the traditional medicinal plants, Comptonia peregrina, Mondarda fistulosa, and Thalictrum dasycarpum extracts

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.