Pentacyclic triterpenes ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) abundantly exist in plant kingdom [1]. Both compounds and their derivatives were reported to have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antiviral and antioxidant activities [2,3]. They can be obtained on industrial scale from renewable raw materials or byproducts. The present research is an attempt to solve an older problem closed to isolation of mentioned compounds from vegetable sources easily accessible in Republic of Moldova. Quantification of UA and OA in by-products of Lavandula angustifolia plants after hydrodistilation of the volatile oil and apple marc from juice production was done using a modified reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method [4] (see Figure). Experimental results shows that the amount of OA and UA content in apple marc is ~ 0.5% (in 1:4 ratio OA/UA), while lavender by-products contain higher amount of mentioned acids ~ 1.0% (in 1:2.6 ratio OA/UA). According to obtained results, investigated vegetable wastes confirm to be rich and promising sources of bioactive compounds.

Figure. RP-HPLC chromatograms of extracts from apple and lavender by-products.
References:
1. Kowalski, R. Studies of selected plant raw materials as alternative sources of triterpenes of
oleanolic and ursolic acid types. J. Agric. Food Chem. 55, 2007, p. 656–662.
2. Duke, J.A. Handbook of Biologically active Phytochemicals and their activities. First ed. CRC
Press, Boca Raton, 1992.
3. Liu, J. Pharmacology of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. Journal of Etnopharmacology, 49, 1995, p.
57–68.
4. Wanga, H., Wanga, Z., Guob, W. Comparative determination of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid of
Macrocarpium officinalis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Nakai by RP-HPLC, Industrial Crops and Products 28,
2008, 328–332.