Triterpenoid profile of flower and leaf cuticular waxes of heather Calluna vulgaris.

Analysis of the main triterpenoid profile of chloroform-soluble cuticular waxes of heather flowers and leaves by GC-MS revealed the following composition: five triterpene acids - betulinic, oleanolic, ursolic, 3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic and 3-oxo-ursan-12-en-28-oic; eight monohydroxyalcohols - α-amyrin, β-amyrin, cycloartanol, 24-methylenecycloartanol, friedelinol, germanicol, lupeol and taraxasterol; three dihydroxyalcohols - betulin, erythrodiol and uvaol; two aldehydes - oleanolic and ursolic; four ketones - α-amyrenone, 4-epi-friedelin, friedelin and taraxerone and seven steroids - campesterol, cholesterol, sitostanol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, stigmasta-3,5-dien-7-one and stigmastane-3,6-dione. Triterpenoids accounted for 20% and 65% by mass of flower and leaf waxes, respectively, which suggest that heather leaves represent a very promising source of these compounds. Ursolic acid was the principal triterpenoid in the cuticular wax of both organs, whereas among the neutral triterpenes, friedelin and uvaol were the most abundant in flowers and leaves, respectively. This report provides the first thorough overview of the triterpenoid composition of cuticular waxes of heather.