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

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 ۹۱.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in stems of E. italicum, Kaleybar population to ۳۹۹.۴۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in seeds of E. italicum, Alamute Qazvin population. The amounts of campsterol ranged from ۲۶.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in E. amoenum (Hezarjarib population) leaves to ۲۱۲.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in E. italicum (Alamute Qazvin population) seeds. In addition, considerable amounts of β-sitosterol were detected, with the highest values of ۲۰۹.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in leaves of E. amoenum from Behshahr populations. Other main phytosterol components were stigmasterol and sitostanol with the highest amounts of ۲۲.۰۰ and ۱۴۱.۴۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) 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.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 ۹۱.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in stems of E. italicum, Kaleybar population to ۳۹۹.۴۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in seeds of E. italicum, Alamute Qazvin population. The amounts of campsterol ranged from ۲۶.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in E. amoenum (Hezarjarib population) leaves to ۲۱۲.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in E. italicum (Alamute Qazvin population) seeds. In addition, considerable amounts of β-sitosterol were detected, with the highest values of ۲۰۹.۰۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) in leaves of E. amoenum from Behshahr populations. Other main phytosterol components were stigmasterol and sitostanol with the highest amounts of ۲۲.۰۰ and ۱۴۱.۴۰ (mg/۱۰۰gr) 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.