The chemical constituents of stem bark are sitosterol, alkaioid (4 – methoxv – 1 – methyl – 2 – quinolone), lupeol, limonene, and counmarins. At least coumarins are xanthyletin, xanthoxyletin, umbelliferone, geranyl umbelliferone isopimpinellin, marmin, marmesin, 7 – methoxy – counmarin (herniarin), superposing, exoxy superposing, dithydrosuberenol, superevene, crenulatin (6 – forrmyl, 7 – methoxy coumarin)
Thanakha plants are medicinal and all parts of this plant are very useful in medicine, indigenous medicine, cosmetics and perfumery. Thanakha is used as a natural make – up. The importance of this plant from the medicinal point of view was advocated by many observers. In Myanmar, the paste from bark is used in making a fragrant paste for cosmetic purpose.
They absorb a wide range of ultraviolet light and generate intense fluorescence (usually blue).
Natural coumarins are classified as follows :
Coumarins substituted with – OH or – OCH at positions C-6 and C -7 . eg : Herniarin
A Pyran ring is fused at C -6 and C – 7 of the coumarin ring system. eg : Xanthoxyletin
Furanocoumarins are principally found in species of the two plant families mbelliferae and Rutaceae. Furanocoumarin belong to two types furan ring is fused at C – 6 and C -7 (psoralen – type ) or C – 7 and C – 8 (angelicin – type ) or C – 7 and C – 8 (angelicin – type ) of the coumarin ring system.
Coumarins possess several useful physiological properties, it has the antibacterial, antifungal, anticoagulant, respiratory stimulation activities. Some coumarins have anti – arrhythmic action and some are capable of being used against radiation damage.
