Węglarz Z., Kosakowska O., Pelc M., Geszprych A., Przybył J.L., Bączek K.

Composition of sterol fraction and content of identified compounds in herb of fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium /L./ Scop.) and leaves of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) obtained from several populations of these species growing wild in Poland were determined by HPLC. The investigated species differed in respect of the composition and content of identified sterols. High intraspecific variability concerning accumulation of sterols was also observed. Herb of fireweed was characterised by relatively high content of ß-sitosterol (85.80-171.18 mg/100 g), campesterol (24.24-334.49 mg/100 g), and ß-sitosterol D-glucoside (26.33-86.32 mg/100 g). Leaves of evening primrose appeared to be much poorer source of sterols. Content of ß-sitosterol (the dominant compound in the sterol fraction) in this raw material ranged from 5.21 to 34.66 mg/100 g.

Key words: wild growing medicinal plants, populations, ß-sitosterol, HPLC