Isolation of lupeol from white oak leaves and its anti-inflammatory activity

•Lupeol was found only in Quercus obtusata species.•A simple method to extract and purify lupeol from Quercus obtusata was developed.•Antiinflammatory activity of Quercus obtusata could be related with inhibition of COX-2.

Lupeol [lup-20(29)-en-2-ol] is found mainly on the surface of plant barks, stems, leaves and fruits waxes. This research explored oaks leaves of several species (Quercus resinosa, Q. grisea, Q. laeta and Q. obtusata) as potential source of lupeol. It was extracted from Quercus leaves by maceration with CHCl3 at 35 °C, followed by a purification in silica column (normal phase), and using as mobile phase hexane (100%), hexane:ethyl acetate (90:10) and hexane:ethyl acetate (80:20). Lupeol in oak leaves was identified by 13C NMR and quantified by GC–MS. Quercus obtusata leaves were an abundant source of lupeol (173.59 μg/g of sample). Anti-cyclooxygenase activity has been used for determining bioactivity of lupeol in this research.