The determination of qualitative composition and quantitative content of steroidal compounds in Hosta plantaginea and Hosta lancifolia plant raw material

Abstract

Introduction: Hosta species are used as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents in Far East countries. Many studies conducted by Chinese scientists testify about 50 steroid compounds in these plants composition. These compounds, according to the researchers’ opinion, show anti-inflammatory and cytostatic activity. Materials and Methods: Qualitative composition and quantitative content of steroidal compounds in Hosta plantaginea and Hosta lancifolia rhizomes with roots, leaves, and flowers were determined by gas chromatography technique. Results and Discussions: As the result of the study, 13 compounds of steroidal structure were found in H. plantaginea rhizomes with roots at a total amount of 103 mg/kg. Only five compounds were detected in leaves and six compounds in flowers. The total amount of the analyzed compounds equaled 312 mg/kg and 114 mg/kg, respectively, for the plant raw material listed above. Six compounds of steroidal structure were founds in both rhizomes with roots and flowers of H. lancifolia. Their total amount equaled 39 mg/kg and 32 mg/kg for rhizomes with roots and flowers, respectively. H. lancifolia leaves contain five identified steroids at the amount of 55 mg/kg. All the analyzed types of plant raw material contained campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol at a high amount. The highest content of these compounds was determined in H. plantaginea leaves. It equaled 27 mg/kg, 124 mg/kg, and 131 mg/kg, respectively, for each compound mentioned above. Gitogenin was detected only in H. plantaginea rhizomes with roots at the amount of 36 mg/kg. Conclusions: The obtained data can be used for the development of plant raw material quality control procedures as well as for the development of new drugs on its basis.