Flavonoids as Chemotaxonomic Markers in the Roots of Plant Family Malvaceae in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Khartoum States- Sudan

This work is a taxonomic study on Flavonoids in the roots of selected species belonged to family Malvaceae. These species considered as: Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Gossypium barbadense. These species distributed in different localities in Sudan. The selected members have nutritive, medicinal and economic importance, extra of that, the present study included botanical and chemical studies. The collected species have been updated due to nomenclature and synonymy. The geographical distribution of the selected members has been indicated. The chemical studies included identification of the flavonoid compounds using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometer (GC – MS). Ninety two flavonoid compounds were detected in the roots of family Malvaceae. The highest number (38) was detected in the roots of Hibiscus sabdariffa. Two flavonoid compounds were restricted only to the roots of Abelmoschus esculentus. These are: dichloroacetic acid nonyl ester and 1,3-diphenyl-1- (trimethyl siloxy) -1(Z) heptene. There were ten flavonoid compounds identified as taxonomic markers for the roots of Hibiscus sabdariffa. Three flavonoid compounds were restricted only to the roots of Gossypium barbadense.

Keywords: Chemotaxonomy; Medicinal Plant; South Kordofan; Blue Nile and Khartoum states, Sudan.