RESEARCH OF STEROID AND VOLATILE COMPOUNDS IN VERBENA OFFICINALIS L. HERB
Authors: Posatska N. M. , Grytsyk A. R. , Struk O. A. 
Published: October 2024

Biologically active compounds of medicinal plants are able to affect various links of processes in the living organism, namely, they regulate the processes of metabolism, growth and development of organisms. The therapeutic potency of medicinal plant raw materials is derived by a complex of biologically active compounds that influence various biologically processes, including metabolism, growth, and development. Numerous steroid-like remedies of plant origin exhibit remarkable activity. Phytosterols, chemical compounds similar to cholesterol, are synthesized in plant organisms and have been found to have anti-tumor effects and lower blood cholesterol. Additionally, steroid and volatile compounds demonstrate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. The genus Verbena includes 250 species. 3 species grow on the territory of Ukraine: Verbena officinalis L., Verbena supinа L., Verbena hybrida Hort.  Verbena officinalis L.  is globally recognized for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, showcasing anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and anti-allergic effects. However, comprehensive chemical studies of Verbena officinalis L. are limited, necessitating a detailed analysis of phitosterol and volatile compound content using modern precise methods.     
The aim of the research was to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the content of steroid and volatile compounds in Verbena officinalis L. herb using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
We chose the herb Verbena officinalis L. as the object of the study.
Materials and methods. The content of phytosterols and volatile compounds in Verbena officinalis L. herb was studied using the GC/MS method. We chose the herb Verbena officinalis L. as the object of the study.
An Agilent Technologies 6890 chromatograph with a 5973 mass spectrometric detector with an HP-5 ms capillary column were used. The mass spectra library in conjunction with AMDIS and NIST identification programs was employed for components were identification.
Research results. The study of phytosterols in  Verbena officinalis L. identified campesterol (9.32%), stigmasterol (7.13%), γ-sitosterol (72.21%) and androst-5,15-dien-3-ol-acetate were identified (11.35%). In the volatile fraction 8 compounds were identified, with benzophenone (33.96%) and hexahydro farnesyl acetone (22.57%) being dominant.           
Conclusions. The GC/MS method allowed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of steroid and volatile compounds in Verbena officinalis L, identifying 4 phytosterols and 8 volatile compounds. The identified phytosterols and volatile compounds in the herb have significant implications for the production of phytoremedies and the development of raw material standardization parameters. We identified campesterol, stigmasterol, γ-sitosterol and androst-5,15-dien-3-ol-acetate in the herb Verbena officinalis L.
Eight volatile compounds were identified in the herb Verbena officinalis L. by the chromato-mass spectrometric method. Benzophenone and hexahydro farnesyl acetone are dominant. Steroid compounds (mg/kg) were identified and quantified: campesterol, stigmasterol, γ-sitosterol and androst-5,15-dien-3-ol-acetate.
The obtained research results will be taken into account in the further production of phytoremedies based on the medicinal Verbena herb, as well as in the development of raw material standardization parameters.