Variations in Pentacyclic Triterpenoids in Different Parts of Four Ocimum Species Using Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Betulinic acid (BA), oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) are the important pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds known for their anti-inflammatory, trypanocidal, antirheumatic, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumoral and many other activities. The quantitative analysis and distribution of BA, OA, and UA in different parts viz leaf, stem, and inflorescence of Ocimum basilicum (OB), O. gratissimum (OG), O. kilimandscharicum (OK), O. tenuiflorum (OT) was performed using reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography and further confirmed the presence of triterpenoids in OG by high performance thin layer chromatography analysis. Leaf of OG was rich in OA (0.141 ± 0.007 %) and UA (0.296 ± 0.015 %), while BA (0.043 ± 0.011 %) was higher in the inflorescence of OK. The yield of BA, OA and UA in OG and OK was very significant (p < 0.001) as compared with OB and OT. The content of UA varied (0.008 ± 0.004 to 0.296 ± 0.015 %) within different parts and species, but this content was higher as compared to OA and BA. This communication presents for the first time simultaneous quantification of pentacyclic triterpenoids (BA, OA and UA) in OB, OG, OK and OT.