Rumex nervosus belongs to the family of Polygonaceae, which is traditionally used in Ethiopia to treat various diseases. With the absence of previous scientific report on the roots of the plant, this study was focused on isolation of active compounds of root of Rumex nervosus. Ground root parts of Rumex nervosus were subjected to successively extract with petroleum ether and methanol. The solvent from each extract was evaporated under reduced pressure using rotavapor to obtain petroleum ether and methanol extract. Chromatographic purification of the methanol extracts by Column chromatography over silica gel followed by Preparative Thin layer Chromatography using Chloroform: methanol (9.5:0.5) ratio gave a compound coded as RN-6 (4-ethylheptyl benzoate). The structure of those compounds was characterized as by means of UV/Vis, IR, 1D-NMR spectral analysis (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) and DEPT-135.

Keywords: Active Compound, Medicinal Plant, Polygonaceae, Rumex nervosus