In order to explore the brassinosteroid-active component in Cassia tora, methanol extract of immature seeds was purified by sequences of solvent fractionation, silica gel adsorption chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 chromatography, charcoal adsorption chromatography and Bondesil chromatography. The activity of brassinosteroid was monitored by the rice inclination test and its presence could be confirmed in each purification step. The purified active components were separated by silica gel adsorption chromatography. Brassinosteroid substances in separated active fractions were identified as teasterone, castasterone, brassinolide by TLC and HPLC. Our work is probably the first report of endogenous brassinosteroid in Cassia tora. The content of brassinosteroid in Cassia tora as converted into brassinolide was 3.5¡5.5 ng/g fresh weight. The order of brassinosteroid contents was toward to be teasterone, castasterone, brassinolide.
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