Alpha-spinasterol in the roots of Impatiens glandulifera

Abstract The roots of Impatiens glandulifera belong to plants, or to part of plants with a higher content of α-spinasterol. Chromatographic analysis of roots hexane extract using GC-MS revealed that α-spinasterol is the dominant substance in the freeze-dried roots of Impatiens glandulifera and its content reaches ca. 1 % wt. When the hexane extracts are concentrated, α-spinasterol crystals fall out in the form of tiny needles, so the isolation of this substance from the roots of Impatients glandulifera is very easy.