HRGC-MS analysis of terpenoids from Maytenus ilicifolia and Maytenus aquifolium ("espinheira santa")

Abstract

This work describes the identification of some of the minor chemical constituents of "espinheira santa" (Maytenus ilicifolia and Maytenus aquifolium, Celastraceae), a medicinal plant widely utilized in Brazil. By using high resolution gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS), it was possible to identify mainly triterpenoids and steroids in "espinheira santa", most of them reported for the first time in both Maytenus species.

Keywords

• Maytenus aquifolium Martius
• Maytenus ilicifolia Martius
• gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS)
• triterpene analysis