Characterization and quantification of triterpenes in the neotropical medicinal plant Souroubea sympetala (Marcgraviaceae) by HPLC-APCI-MS

Abstract

A rapid, two-solvent, HPLC-APCI-MS method was developed to identify and quantify four pentacyclic triterpenes (betulinic acid, ursolic acid, α-amyrin and β-amyrin) in extracts of the neotropical medicinal plant Souroubea sympetala. Analysis of plant organs, wood, bark, leaves, immature fruit and flowers, indicated that the phytochemical distribution and quantity of triterpenes varies across the plant, with betulinic acid and ursolic acid the major constituents in the bark, wood, fruit and flowers and the amyrins the major constituents of the leaves.