Extraction and identification of phytosterols in different organs of some Iranian Echium plants

Abstract

Seeds, leaves and stems from six populations of two Echium species (Fam. Boraginaceae) collected from their natural habitats in Iran were surveyed in a search for new sources of phytosterol. Phytosterols from the corresponding organs were analysed by GC for total phytosterol content and campsterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and sitostanol composition. The range of total phytosterol content varied between 91.00 (mg/100gr) in stems of E. italicum, Kaleybar population to 399.40 (mg/100gr) in seeds of E. italicum, Alamute Qazvin population. The amounts of campsterol ranged from 26.00 (mg/100gr) in E. amoenum (Hezarjarib population) leaves to 212.00 (mg/100gr) in E. italicum (Alamute Qazvin population) seeds. In addition, considerable amounts of β-sitosterol were detected, with the highest values of 209.00 (mg/100gr) in leaves of E. amoenum from Behshahr populations. Other main phytosterol components were stigmasterol and sitostanol with the highest amounts of 22.00 and 141.40 (mg/100gr) in E. amoenum leaves from Behshahr and E. italicum seeds from Alamute Qazvin populations, respectively. These data allow us to evaluate Iranian members of Echium genus as alternative wild sources of valuable phytosterols for commercial purposes.