Shahin Aziz’s research while affiliated with Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and other places

Pectin was extracted from ripe jackfruit rind using a certain extraction condition and yield was 40 g (4 %) (g/g ) on wet basis (20% on dry basis). Estimated value of produced jackfruit pectin (3000/- per kg) could be 2304 crore Taka per year in Bangladesh.

Bombax ceiba Linn belongs to the family of Bombacaceae and is an important medicinal plant. In Bangladesh, Bombax ceiba Linn is locally known as “Shimul tree”. The whole part of the plant used as traditional folk medicine for the treatment of antidysentric, anti diahorreal and antipyretic effects. The present communication attempts to evaluate fatty acid analysis by GC-MS spectrophotometer, total protein content by Kjeldahl method and to quantify some active constituents i.e. alkaloid, saponin and flavonoid. The fatty acid compositions of the petroleum ether extract of leaves and seeds of Bombax ceiba grown in Bangaladesh were determined by gas chromatography- mass spectrophotometer. 8 compounds were identified from leaves and 13 compounds were identified from the seeds. For both cases Palmitic acid showed higher value. The findings from present study showed the protein content for seeds have higher value (18.89%) than leaves of Bombax ceiba . The present investigation showed that both leaves and seeds of Bombax ceiba contain phytochemicals such as flavanoids, alakaloids and saponins in appreciable quantities. The flavonoid content of leaves was 5.97% and for the case of seeds (5.72%), the alkaloid content for leaves was (9.73%) and for seeds (31.44), the saponin content for the case of leaves (13.90%) and for the case of seeds was (43.58%).

Bangladesh is a rich store house of medicinal plants. Among them Bombax ceiba Linn. is an important one. In Bangladesh, Bombax ceiba is locally known as "Shimul tree". The whole part of the plant used as traditional folk medicine and has antidysentric, antidiahorreal and antipyretic effects. Taking these things into consideration it creates sufficient interest to carry out analysis for proximate and mineral compositions of leaf and seed of Bombax ceiba grown up in Bangladesh. Proximate analysis of the plant was carried out using standard analytical procedures. The results of the proximate analysis showed that the leaves of Bombax ceiba have higher contents of crude fiber (28.44%), ash on drying (8.14%), acid insoluble ash (9.30%) and water soluble ash (13.84%) than that of seeds.Whereas seeds have higher carbohydrate contents (40.82%) than leaves of this plant. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for quantitative analysis of various elements. Total 13 important elements were analyzed in leaves and seeds of Bombax ceiba. Results indicated the presence of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cr, Fe, Zn, Al, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd and Mn in both leaves and seeds. But among the elements, concentration of Ca was found higher in leaves and concentration of K was found higher in seeds. The most important finding of the work is that leaves of Bombax ceiba showed high concentration of all elements than seedsexcept Na, Cu, Cd and Ni. The elemental composition in both leaves and seeds of the plantwere found to be different

Spermacocelatifolia (family: Rubiaceae) is one of the important members of the medicinal plants of Bangladesh. Compounds: stigmasterol (1), 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxymethylene-cyclohexa-2,5- dienone (2), 3β-hydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (3) and phthalic acid (4) have been isolated from the aerial parts of S. latifolia. Compounds (1), (2) and (3) were isolated from the chloroform extract but compound (4) was isolated from the methanol extract. The structures of the compounds have been established by different spectroscopic data analysis. All four compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Objective: To investigate the elemental composition of the leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) due to the plant's wide application in the indigenous medicinal system and its chemical constituents' importance. Methods: The atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for quantitative analysis of various elements. Results: Total 13 important elements were analyzed in leaves and flowers of C. roseus. Results indicated the presence of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cr, Fe, Zn, Al, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd and Mn in both leaves and flowers. The most important finding of the work was that, leaves of C. roseus showed high concentration of all elements except K and Zn while flowers of C. roseus showed higher concentration of K and Zn. Conclusions: The elemental composition in both leaves and flowers of C. roseus were found to be different. Therefore, different parts of this medicinal plant are enriched in some micro and macro nutrients like Fe, Ca, Na, K, Zn, which are very important for biological metabolic system as well as human health.

Capsicum Annum linn. is locally known as dry chili in Bangladesh. It is used as spices all over the world. In this study fatty oil of the two varieties of dry chilly from two different places of Bangladesh were analyzed by GC-MS. Dry chili (Capsicum Annum linn.) Fatty oil has been widely used 1 industrially as an ingredient of many products, e.g. hot sauces, canned fish, ginger beer, as well as for some pharmaceutical products. Fatty oil of two varieties of dry chili was analysis by GC-MS and their composition were established. The GC-MS analysis showed that, Dinajpur's dry chili contained total nine fatty oils. These were Tetradecanoic acid,methyl ester (2.72%); 9-Hexadecanoic acid ,methyl ester (1.55%); Hexadecanoic acid ,methyl ester (17.40%); 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid(Z,Z)-methyl ester (44.64%); 10-Octadecanoic acid ,methyl ester (24.33%); 9-octadecenoic acid(z)-methyl ester (2.39%); Octadecanoic acid ,methyl ester (3.76%); Octadecanoic acid,9,10,12-trimethoxy-,methyl ester (1.43%); 4-tert-butyl-2-methoxyquinoline-3-phenyl-2-piperidino-2-propen-1-a 4-butyl-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran (1.80%). On the other hand, Chittagong's dry chili contained total ten fatty oils. These were Dodecanoic acid,methyl ester (1.99%); Tetradecanoic acid,methyl ester(5.69%); 9-Hexadecanoic acid ,methyl ester (1.14%); Hexadecanoic acid ,methyl ester (30.15%); 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid(Z,Z)-methyl ester (29.30%); 9-octadecenoic acid(z)-methyl ester(17.82%); 8-octadecenoic acid,methyl ester(3.08%); Octadecanoic acid ,methyl ester (5.48%); Octadecanoic acid,9,10,12-trimethoxy-,methyl ester (2.02%); Methoxylate ester of methyl oleate (3.34%). Elemental analysis was also performed by ED-XRF Analyzer and was observed the mineral contents in fatty oil of the samples. In the minerals, % of K was major in both the samples (85.16% for Dinajpur and 82.54% for Chittagong).

Catharanthus roseus is an important medicinal plant commonly known as Madagasker periwinkle. Traditionally different parts of its used in the treatment of various diseases (e.g. diabetes, menstrual regulators, hypertension, cancer and antigalactogogue etc.) in number of countries. The essential oil of leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus growing in Bangladesh were investigated by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrophotometery (GC-MS) to determined the chemical composition of the volatile fraction and identify their chemotypes. Quantification of active principles through analytical tools is essential for establishing the authenticity and credibility. Extraction by steam distillation and analysis with GC-MS have been shown to be valuable tools for the identification of the constituents of essential oil of leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus and can provide a useful guide about the variation of the components. The main objective of the present study was focused on identification and quantification of chemical constituents present in the essential oil of leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus by GC-MS methods. 24 compounds consisting (95.99%) of the total for the case of leaves were identified. And total 10 compounds consisting (98.20%) of the total for the case of flowers of Catharanthus roseus were identified by GC-MS analysis in Bangladesh. For the case of leaves the identified components were : terpenoids (75.41%) , alkanes (6.0%) , aldehydes (5.5%), fatty acids (3.6 %), ketones (3.2%), alcohol (2.28%) respectively. For the case of flowers the identified components fatty acid esters (98.20) % respectively.

Catharanthus roseus is one of the medicinally important plants belonging to the family of Appocyanaceae. It has been used extensively by ayurvedic practitioner to treat dermatitis, abscesses, eczema, psoriasis, sores, corns, ringworm, scabies, epilapsy, malaria, heart tonics and tumor. It has several commercially valuable secondary metabolites including the anticancer agent, vincristine, vinblastine and the hypertension drugs ajmalicine and serpentine. The fatty acid compositions of the petroleum ether extract of leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus grown in Bangaladesh were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer. 5 compounds were identified from the extract of leaves (24.18%) and 5 compounds were identified from extract of flowers (55.53%) of Catharanthus roseus. In the case of leaves the main fatty acid was methyl elaidate (8.57%) and in the case of flowers, it was methyl palmitate (13.13%), respectively.

Allium sativum Linn. is locally known as Garlic in Bangladesh. It is used as spices all over the world. In this study essential oil of the two varieties of garlic from Bangladesh and China were investigated by GC-MS. The regular consumption of garlic oil can reduce blood pressure; prevent heart disease including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and cancer1. Garlic oil is an effective antibiotic, anti-viral, anti-fungal agent, which could be used to prevent nausea, diarrhea, ease coughs, even treatment in conditions such as malaria and cholera probably an immune system enhancement, some studies have found lower rates of certain types of cancer in people2. Garlic is one of the most popular spices in the world. Total 11 chemical constituents were found by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis from both the essential oil of Bangladeshi and China garlic. Among them Diallyl disulfide (28.99%); Trisulfide, methyl 2-propenyl (23.22%) and Trisulfide, di-2-propenyl (15.36%) are the principle components of Bangladeshi garlic. In China garlic, Trisulfide, methyl 2-propenyl (29.12%); Trisulfide, di-2-propenyl (21.98%) and Diallyl disulfide (17.24%) were the major components. Quantification of active principles through analytical tools is essential for establishing the authenticity and credibility. Steam distillation extraction combined with GC-MS has been shown to be a valuable tool for the analysis of garlic constituents and can provide a useful guide to component variation. The main objective of the present study was focused on identification and quantification of chemical constituents present in the essential oil of garlic using GC-MS method.