The study of fatty and organic acids of vaccinium uliginosum leaves

Abstract

Using chromato-mass-spectrometry the analysis of the qualitative composition and the quantitative content of organic and fatty acids in Vaccinium uliginosum leaves has been conducted. The analysis of methyl esters of fatty and organic acids has been performed using a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (5973N/6890N MSD/DS Agilent Technologies, USA). Identification of methyl esters of acids has been performed on the basis of the calculation of the equivalent length of the aliphatic chain using the data from the NIST 05 and Willey 2007 mass spectra library with the total number of spectra more than 470000 in combination with AMDIS and NIST programmes for identification; the retention time has been also compared with the retention time of standard compounds (Sigma). In Vaccinium uliginosum leaves 36 organic and fatty acids have been identified, their total content is 5867.84 mg/kg. In leaves 18 fatty acids and 18 organic acids have been found. Dominant components of Vaccinium uliginosum leaves among fatty acids are palmitic acid (1566.74 mg/kg), myristic acid (273.46 mg/kg), tetracosanoic acid (219.73 mg/kg) and arachic acid (214.82 mg/kg), and among organic acids – levulinic acid (600.32 mg/kg) and malonic acid (493.17 mg/kg). Based on the research conducted it has been proven that Vaccinium uliginosum leaves are the promising raw material for further pharmacognostic study.