The study of fatty acids in Anchusa officinalis L. herb of the Ukrainian flora

Abstract

The presence of different groups of biologically active substances in the medicinal plant raw material determines its wide use in medical practice. The study of the chemical composition and possible pharmacological effects of medicinal plants are priorities in the process of their research. Aim. To study the content and the composition of fatty acids in Anchusa officinalis L. herb of the Ukrainian flora using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method (GC/MS). Materials and methods. The samples of Anchusa officinalis L. herb were harvested in June 2017 in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The study was performed using the GC/MS method. To identify the components, the spectra obtained were considered on the basis of general laws of fragmentation for molecules of organic compounds under the action of the electron impact, as well as by comparing the results with data from NIST05 and WILEY 2007 mass spectrum libraries. The data analysis was performed using Statistic 7.0, Excel 7.0 statistical program package for Microsoft Office for Windows. Results and discussion. This study presents the results the fatty acids investigation in Anchusa officinalis L. herb of the Ukrainian flora. For the first time, 8 fatty acids were identified. They were myristic acid (163.36 mg/kg), palmitic acid (2324.39 mg/kg), linoleic acid (1498.33 mg/kg), linolenic acid (2696.36 mg/kg), stearic acid (410.16 mg/kg), arachidic acid (240.43 mg/kg), behenic acid (409.23 mg/kg), lignoceric acid (498,38 mg/kg). The total mass of unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acid) was 4045.95 mg/kg, while the total mass of saturated fatty acids (myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, behenic and lignoceric acid) was 4194.69 mg/kg. It indicates an insignificant predominance of unsaturated acids in the plant raw material. The total content of fatty acids in Anchusa officinalis L. herb was 8240.64 mg/kg (0.8 % by weight of the plant raw material). Conclusions. The study of fatty acids in Anchusa officinalis L. herb of the Ukrainian flora has been conducted for the first time. In the raw material, the following 8 fatty acids have been identified: unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acid) and saturated fatty acids (myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, behenic and lignoceric acid). The total content of fatty acids in Anchusa officinalis L. herb is 0.8 % by weight of a dry raw material. The dominant compound among fatty acids is linolenic acid (2696.36 mg/kg of a dry raw material). Taking into account the above the further search for the method of obtaining the fatty acid complex from Anchusa officinalis L. herb is promising in order to develop the effective and safe herbal medicines.