Determination of oleanolic and ursolic acid in bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.)

Abstract

Vaccinium myrtillus (Ericaceae) is used in therapy of various illnesses. Oleanolic and ursolic acids are bioactive triterpenes, which can influence the biological activity of this plant. High-performance thin layer chromatography combined with densitometry was used to determine the content of these compounds in ethanolic extracts from the leaves and fruits of Vaccinum myrtillus L. The samples of extracts were treated of 1% iodine solution in chloroform and next separated on HPTLC Si 60 F₂₅₄ plates using mixture of toluene-petroleum ether-diethyl ether 15:15:10 (v/v) as a mobile phase. After drying, the plates were sprayed with 10% (v/v) H₂SO₄ in ethanol and heated for 2-3 minutes at the temperature of 120°C. The quantification was carried out by densitometric scanning in flurescence/reflectance mode at λ = 400 nm. The determined contents of oleanolic and ursolic acid were 0.18 mg/g and 0.33 mg/g of dry herb in fruits and 1.16 mg/g and 0.28 mg/g in leaves of Vaccinium myrtillus, respectively.