Planta Med 2011; 77 - P_85
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273614

Evaluation of Regional and Seasonal Variations of Triterpene and Flavonoid Contents in Centella asiatica by HPLC-DAD

A Alqahtani 1, W Tongkao-on 1, KM Li 2, V Razmovski-Naumovski 1, 3, B Kimble 1, K Chan 1, 3, GQ Li 1
  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • 2Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • 3College of Health and Science, University of Western Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia

Centella asiatica (L) Urban (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae) is a popular medicinal plant extensively used in traditional medicine for wound healing and variety of inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the content of triterpenoid derivatives (asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid) and phenolic components (chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin and kaempferol) in plant samples grown in different countries and harvested in different seasons. Methanolic extracts of C. asiatica collected from six different countries and in different months were subjected to HPLC-DAD analysis. Separation of the phytochemicals was achieved on C18 analytical column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.3% phosphoric acid in water and acetonitrile. The eluents from the HPLC column was monitored at 210nm. The analysis of four principal Centella triterpenoids showed significant variation (p <0.05 ANOVA) in different plant sources and different collection months during one year. The Australian sample was shown to contain higher amount of the investigated compounds (asiaticoside and madecassoside) than other countries (Figure 1). The results also showed that total triterpene content of Australian Centella reached their highest levels in the summer months and their lowest values in the winter season of the southern hemisphere (Figure 2). Findings in this study provide useful information for optimising the triterpenoid content of C. asiatica plant for medicinal purposes.

Figure 1. Percentage of titerpenoid derivates found in C. asiatica crude samples from different countries, values are means±SD, n=3.

Figure 2. Fluctuation pattern of total triterpene contents of C. asiatica during one year, values are means±SD, n=3.

Acknowledgements: This Project is supported by the International Science Linkages established under the Australian Government's innovation statement, Backing Australia's Ability, and the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) of Australia.