Phytochemical investigation of Euphorbia abyssinica: Isolation and structural elucidation of secondary metabolites

The present study investigated the phytochemical constituents of Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel. The crude 80% ethanol extract was partitioned between EtOAc and water, and the EtOAc fraction was subjected to chromatographic fractionation, yielding twelve compounds: one sterol (β-sitosterol, 1); one sterol-glucoside (sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside, 2); four triterpenes (glutinol, 3; epifriedelanol, 7; taraxerol, 8; friedelin, 9); three ellagic acid derivatives (3,3′,4-tri-O-methylellagic acid, 4; 3,4,3′-tri-O-methylellagic acid-4′-rutinoside, 5; 3,4,3′-tri-O-methylellagic acid-4′-glucopyranoside, 12); one flavonoid glycoside (quercetin-3-O-L-rhamnoside, 6); and two coumarins (scoparone, 10; scopoletin, 11). Compounds 1-9 were previously reported from E. abyssinica, while scoparone (10) and scopoletin (11) were isolated and characterized for the first time. Additionally, 3,4,3′-tri-O-methylellagic acid-4′-glucopyranoside (12) is reported for the first time from this species. GC–MS analysis of the petroleum ether fraction revealed Kaur-16-ene (24.82%), 9-Tricosene, (Z)- (12.84%), Hexacosane (11.51%), Nonadecane (7.96%), 10-Heneicosene (6.67%), 9-Nonadecene (5.72%), and Pentadecanal (4.65%) as major components. These findings highlight the chemical diversity of E. abyssinica and provide a basis for future pharmacological investigations. KEY WORDS: Euphorbia abyssinica gmel, Secondary metabolites, Ethanol extract, Triterpenes, Coumarins, Ellagic acid derivatives Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2026, 40(7), 1419-1432.                                          DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v40i7.3