Chromatographic separation of oleanolic, ursolic and betulinic acid in plant extracts on amiopropyl silica using aqueous mobile phases

Triterpenic acids are important group of plant secondary metabolites, which affect the biological activity of many medicinal plants and herbs. In the present paper, the applicability of aminopropyl silica using aqueous mobile phases for the separation of oleanolic, ursolic and betulinic acid was investigated. The mixtures of water with: acetone, methanol, acetonitrile, isopropanol and tetrahydrofuran in various ratios, were tested as eluents. The best results were obtained for mixture of water in acetone (10:90, v/v) with addition of 0.05% ammonia solution. The chromatographic system was used for qualitative analysis of triterpenic acids in Salvia officinalis L., Origanum vulgare L. and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill.