Investigating the Therapeutic Potential of Some Medicinal Plant and Wild Fruits Based on Terpenic Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids

Alexandru Ciocarlan¹, Aculina Aricu¹ & Elisabeta-Irina Geana^2*

¹Laboratory Chemistry of Natural and Physiologically Active Compounds, Institute of Chemistry, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
²ICSI Analytics Group, National R&D Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies (ICIT), Ramnicu Valcea, Romania

Dr. Elisabeta-Irina Geana, ICSI Analytics Group, National R&D Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies (ICIT), Ramnicu Valcea, Romania.

Keywords: Medicinal Plants; Berries; Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids; RP-HPLC

Abstract

Plant resources is the main supplier of bioactive phytochemical compounds and has been for many years the major source of pharmaceutical, aromatic and industrial compounds. The therapeutic use of plant resources is essential to maintaining the health, well-being and functionality of the human body, a special role being for medicinal and aromatic plants, and wild fruits. The modern trend aims to use the natural products, both in prophylaxis and as adjuvants, in order to increase the therapeutic arsenal and to provide the body with familiar and easily assimilated products.
Here we report the results of RP-HPLC quantification of highly biological active triterpenes ursolic and oleanolic acids in extracts of four medicinal plants species, including: Common Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), two Mentha sp.: Bergamot mint (M. x piperita var. citrate (Ehrh.) Briq.) and Ginger mint (M. x gracilis ‘Variegata’), Romanian Tufted Thyme (Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb.), and six wild fruit species such as Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.), Dog rose (Rosa canina L.), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), Blackthorn (Prunus spinose L.), Hawthorn (Grataegus monogyna Jack.) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.). The samples are originating from Republic of Moldova and were harvested during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

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