INVESTIGATION OF LIPOPHYILIC COMPOUNDS FROM NATIVE
SPECIES OF PORTULACA L. (PORTULACEAE) GENUS
ADRIANA IULIANA ANGHEL 1*, VALERIA RĂDULESCU 2, DIANA-CAROLINA ILIEŞ 2, MIHAELA DINU 1, VIORICA ISTUDOR 3, IOANA NENCU 3, ROBERT VIOREL ANCUCEANU 1
“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956, Bucharest, Romania
1Pharmaceutical Botany Department
2Organic Chemistry Department
3Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry and Phytotherapy Department
*corresponding author: anghel_adriana_iuliana@yahoo.com
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Abstract:
The species of Portulaca genus are little known, studied and are not used in Romania for therapy or food purposes. In the
world, though, Portulaca oleracea is known for its therapeutic and nutritive value. This research aimed the investigation of
some lipophilic compounds from two Romanian native species, P. oleracea and P. grandiflora. The analysis of volatile
compounds was carried out by GC-MS and the total carotenoids were spectrophotometrically assayed. In P. oleracea 17
volatile compounds were identified, among which the most important were linalool (33.18%) and salicylaldehyde (21.23%).
Their presence might justify the use of the species in the therapy of diabetes and its complications, as well as in inflammatory
states. The total carotenoid content was higher for P. oleracea (between 281.3 - 361.9 mg carotene per 100 grams of dried
herbal product) than for P. grandiflora (between 6.4 - 6.6). The results are in agreement with the antioxidant activity reported
for the herbal product in the literature.

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