HPLC–QTOF–MS/MS-based rapid screening of phenolics and triterpenic acids in leaf extracts of Ocimum species and their interspecies variation

Species of genus Ocimum are traditionally used for their medicinal and flavoring properties. These are rich sources of essential oils and found as an ingredient in many Ayurvedic preparations and food products. Phenolics and triterpenic acids are the medicinally active compounds mainly concentrated in the leaves of Ocimum species. This study aimed to develop an efficient and reliable analytical method for the rapid screening and characterization of phenolics and triterpenic acids in the leaf extracts of 6 Ocimum species using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–QTOF–MS/MS). A total of 50 compounds were identified and characterized on the basis of their accurate MS and MS/MS information, out of which 23 compounds were confirmed by authentic standards. Identified compounds include 28 flavonoids, 4 propenyl phenol derivatives, 2 triterpenic acids, 11 phenolic acids, and 5 phenolic acid esters. The developed method was applied to study the interspecies variation of identified compounds. Significant variation in the distribution of identified phenolics and triterpenic acids was observed among studied Ocimum species. Hence, the established method provides an effective and reliable tool for screening and characterization of phytoconstituents in Ocimum species.