The powdered seeds of Corchorus olitorius (1 kg) were extracted with lower alcohol and water or a mixture of them. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure at 40 ºC to give rise to 135 g of semi-solid extract (13.5% dry weight basis). Pre-activated yeast was added to different concentrations of the total alcoholic extracts in water (from 2 to 25% w/v) in conical flasks. The flasks were kept under shaking overnight and un-shacked for 2 to 6 days (at 25-30 ºC). An adsorbent as added to the flasks and the flasks were shaken overnight and the adsorbent was filtered off. The adsorbent was dried at 40 ºC and extracted with non-polar solvents (Petroleum ether and benzene) followed by methanol. The methanolic extract was evaporated under reduced pressure to give rise to cardiac glycoside fraction symbolized as Fraction A and Fraction B (1.6 and 1.3 % dry weight basis, respectively). Fraction A is a mixture of olitoriside, olitoriusin and gluco-olitoriside in a ratio of 2:1:1. Fraction B is a mixture with the same components of Fraction A in addition to other two minor compounds that disappeared by crystallization of Fraction B. The fractions A and B were tested pharmacologically. It was found that they are more active than Digitalis dugs; Ouabain and Digoxin for treatment of congestive heart failure.
