A study on the triterpenoid constituents in Erica Erigena

E. erigena (Ericaceae), formerly known as ‘Mediterranean heath’ and as ‘Irish heath’, is an interesting plant with a limited geographical distribution [1]. As this plant is somewhat underexplored phytochemically, the present study focused on determination of the triterpene constituents in the ethyl acetate extract of E. erigena by GC–MS and NMR. The principal triterpenoids identified in free form were α-amyrin, β-amyrin, lupeol, oleanolic acid, micromeric acid and ursolic acid. The minor constituents present included α- amyrenone, β-amyrenone, lupenone, erythrodiol, uvaol, betulin, ursolic aldehyde, stigmasterol and β- sitosterol. Interestingly of those conjugated to fatty acids, determined after hydrolysis, β-amyrin was particularly dominant together with lupeol and α-amyrin. The same correlation was noted for the triterpenes conjugated to coumaric acid where these conjugates existed as a rapidly equilibrating mixture of cis/trans isomers. Quantification of the triterpenoids present in E. erigena, leaves and flowers, was conducted using reference standards, where available, and using lithocholic acid as internal standard. Coumaroyl triterpenes and micromeric acid have not been reported previously from plants in the Ericaceae family where in general, micromeric acid has shown a very limited distribution in the plant kingdom.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

• References

• 1 Nelson EC.. 905. Erica erigena. Curtis's Botanical Magazine 2019; 36 (01) 32-45

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023