Identification of betulinic acid in ethanol extract of Vitellaria paradoxa leaves using spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

Vitellaria paradoxa tree contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Betulinic acid (BA) is an important phytochemical. This study analysed the presence of BA in ethanol leaf extract of V. paradoxa by ultraviolet (UV) infrared (IR) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. The UV spectrum of the extract shows five prominent frequencies at 402.20nm, 274.00nm, 479.00nm, 345.00nm and 257.20nm, while BA standard shows two frequencies. The IR analysis of the extract showed six prominent values, 3322.9 cm-1, 2929.7 cm-1, 2838.4 cm-1, 1654.9 cm-1, 1449.9 cm-1 and 1015.7 cm-1, comparable to the standard BA. The HPLC profile of the extract revealed seven peaks, whose retention times were 1.582 min, 2.046 min, 2.580 min, 3.124 min, 4.536 min, 5.085 min and 5.420 min, some of which are comparable to the standard BA. In conclusion, this study indicates the presence and possibility of extraction of BA from the leaves of V. paradoxa.