HPLC-ESI-MSn Characterization of Phenolic Compounds, Terpenoid Saponins, and Other Minor Compounds in Bituminaria Bituminosa
February 2015
in “
Industrial Crops and Products
”
TLDR Researchers found over 40 compounds in Bituminaria bituminosa, including many flavonoids and some with potential for medical and hair care uses.
In 2015, researchers conducted a chemical analysis of Bituminaria bituminosa, a plant used in folk medicine and as livestock feed, potentially including applications for hair restoration. Using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MSn), they identified over 40 compounds in the leaves and flowers, with a significant number being glycosylated flavonoids, especially apigenin derivatives. Other compounds such as phenolic acids, lignans, and saponins, which have potential pharmaceutical applications, were also detected. Notably, the study found caffeoyl-N-tryptophan and a new compound, caffeoyl-N-tryptophan-rhamnoside. The findings suggest that the leaves contain a greater variety of compounds than the flowers and underscore the potential of B. bituminosa in medicine and agriculture, including its use in hair care products due to the properties of saponins. The study was supported by various institutions, including ceiA3, the University of Jaén, Spain, and FCT, Portugal.
