Effect of extraction solvents on triterpenoid contents and quantification of saponins Rb1, Rb3, and Rd in Rubus cochinchinensis using high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effect of extraction solvents on the total triterpenoid content and quantified three selected triterpenoid saponins Rb1, Rb3, and Rd in the extract of Rubus cochinchinensis. The total triterpenoid content was determined by using a colorimetric method with vanillin reagent in a perchloric acid medium, and the saponin compounds were quantified by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. Seven solvent systems were investigated, among which ethanol yielded the highest extraction efficiency for the triterpenoids (56.40 ± 0.53 mg oleanolic acid/g). The content of Rb1, Rb3, and Rd was 327.58 ± 2.84, 324.95 ± 7.91, and 135.17 ± 1.09 μg/g, respectively. Compared with well-known medicinal plants such as Korean Red Ginseng and Panax quinquefolius, R. cochinchinensis demonstrated superior levels of triterpenoid saponins. These findings suggest that R. cochinchinensis is a promising natural source for the development of biologically active products, particularly in the fields of pharmaceuticals and functional foods.