Phytochemical Profiling, Isolation, Characterization and Quantification of Triterpenoids from Terminalia Arjuna: A...

Terminalia arjuna is a widely recognized medicinal tree known for its diverse pharmacological properties, particularly its cardioprotective effects. This study aimed to quantify two key bioactive triterpenoids, arjungenin and arjunic acid, in T. arjuna bark samples collected from 16 different geographical locations. A validated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography method was developed, demonstrating high precision, accuracy and sensitivity for the simultaneous quantification of these compounds. Statistical analyses, including Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, Principal Component Analysis and heat map visualization, were employed to classify populations based on their phytochemical composition. The results revealed significant variations in arjungenin and arjunic acid content among different populations, with the highest concentrations observed in samples from Amangarh tiger reserve (Bijnor) and Gorakhpur Forest division (Pharenda). These findings were further confirmed by ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. Additionally, variations in yield and total tannin content were observed, suggesting that environmental factors play a crucial role in secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The identification of high-yielding populations highlights the potential for targeted conservation efforts and the selection of superior genetic resources for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. This study provides a comprehensive phytochemical assessment of T. arjuna populations and establishes a reliable analytical method for quality control and standardization. The findings contribute valuable insights into the influence of environmental factors on metabolite production, paving the way for future research on genetic and biochemical pathways regulating triterpenoid biosynthesis in T. arjuna. Moreover, flash chromatography was employed to isolate arjunic acid, and its structure was further validated using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, reinforcing the analytical accuracy of the method.