A chemical study of Potentilla anserina L. herb (Rosaceae) of Siberian origin led to the isolation of 17 compounds. Three ellagitannins-potentillin, agrimonic acid A and B-are reported for the first time in this species. With a view to rapid quantitative analysis, a new method was developed for simultaneous determination of major phenolic compounds in P. anserina, including caffeic acid, myricetin-3-O-glucuronide, agrimoniin, ellagic acid, miquelianin, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucuronide, and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside. The quantitative determination was conducted by microcolumn reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Separation was performed using a ProntoSIL-120-5-C18 AQ column (60 mm × 1 mm × 5 μm) with six-step gradient elution of aqueous 0.2 М LiClO4 in 0.006 M HClO4 and acetonitrile as mobile phases. The components were quantified by HPLC-UV at 270 nm. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r2 > 0.999) within test ranges. The reproducibility was evaluated by intra- and inter-day assays, and RSD values were less than 2.8%. The recoveries were between 97.15 and 102.38%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.21 to 1.94 μg/mL, and limits of quantification ranged from 0.65 to 5.88 μg/mL, respectively. Various solvents, extraction methods, temperatures, and times were evaluated to obtain the best extraction efficiency. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of selected pharmaceutical products: 12 batches of P. anserina herb collected from three Siberian regions (Yakutia, Buryatia, Irkutsk), two commercial samples of P. anserina herb, and some preparations (liquid extract, tincture, decoction, infusion, and dry extract).

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/1/224/pdf

Phenolic profile of Potentilla anserina L. (Rosaceae) herb of siberian origin and development of a rapid method for simultaneous determination of major Phenolics in P. anserina pharmaceutical products by microcolumn RP-HPLC-UV.

Oak acorns used to be an important human food, up until recent times. The major factor inhibiting their use in modern nutrition is their high tannin content. Polish oak trees were screened in order to find out whether there are any major geographical or interspecific differences in tannin and total phenolic contents in acorns, which might help us to establish further directions in the search for low-tannin individuals. We studied the level of phenolic compounds using the standard Polish and European Pharmacopoeia method, with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and hide powder. Altogether 49 acorn samples of Quercus robur, 13 of Q. petraea, 1 of Q. pubescens (all native) and 12 of Q. rubra (introduced) were collected in different regions of Poland. The amount of investigated phenolics in Q. robur and Q. petraea acorns was similar, and tannins constituted the main component. The Q. pubescens sample was distinguished by the lowest tannin and total phenolic content and a relatively high amount of non-tannin phenolics. Q. rubra had a slightly lower tannin content than Q. robur and Q. petraea acorns, but the level of other phenolics was much higher. The results for Q. robur suggest geographical variability of phenolic content as well as a relationship between the phytochemical and biometric parameters of oak acorns. Additional key words: polyphenols, oak acorns, phytochemistry, food security Addresses: Ł. Łuczaj, University of Rzeszów, Institute of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, Department of Botany, Werynia 502, 36-100 Kolbuszowa, Poland, e-mail: lukasz.luczaj@interia.pl A. Adamczak, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Department of Botany, Breeding and Agricultural Technology, Kolejowa 2, 62-064 Plewiska near Poznań, Poland M. Duda, University of Rzeszów, Institute of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, Department of Botany, Werynia 502, 36-100 Kolbuszowa, Poland

/pdf/tannin-content-in-acorns-quercus-spp-from-poland-3zjn4vadcg.pdf

Tannin content in acorns (Quercus spp.) from Poland

Constitutive activation of genes involved in triterpene saponins enhances the accumulation of saponins in three-year-old Panax notoginseng growing under moderate light intensity

Hydrolyzable tannins and products of their hydrolysis, ellagic acid (EA) and gallic acid (GA), are important constituents of many medicinal plants and exhibit various biological activities. Geum rivale and G. urbanum are traditional herbal remedies rich in tannin compounds. The aim of the study was to quantitate free and total EA and GA in aerial and underground parts of G. rivale and G. urbanum. After optimization of extraction, both compounds were quantitated by reversed phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). EA was more abundant than GA in the investigated material, and underground parts of G. rivale were the richest source of total EA and GA.

Quantitative Determination of Ellagic Acid and Gallic Acid in Geum Rivale L. and G. Urbanum L.

Classification of plant secondary metabolites and characterization of major plant growth regulators are shortly described. A short account is also given to light, shade and ultraviolet radiation and their impact on plants. Recent investigations regarding secondary metabolite production and alterations in endogenous level of plant growth regulators in medicinal plants grown under light, shade or UV radiation are reviewed and discussed. Some conclusions and future perspectives to enlarge the investigations in this direction are also given.

Plant Secondary Metabolites and Some Plant Growth Regulators Elicited by UV Irradiation, Light And/Or Shade

Southern sweet-grass (Poaceae) rarely occurs in Polish coniferous or mixed forests. Leaves of this plant, rich in coumarin compounds, are mainly used as a flavouring raw material in alcohol, tobacco and cosmetic industry. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of shading on the yield and quality of southern sweet-grass. The experiment was established at the certificated organic field of Department of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants. The sunlight was reduced up to 50 and 70% by using shading nets. The object of experiment was two-year-old plants grown on the alluvial soil. Leaves were harvested two times: in mid-May and in the last week of August (regrowth). The highest yield of leaves was observed at 50% of shading. The shaded plants were characterized by higher content of coumarin and 3,4-dihydrocoumarin and lower content of bergapten in comparison to non-shaded ones. In the leaves five phenolic acids and two flavonoids were identified.

The influence of shading on the yield and quality of southern sweet-grass (Hierochloë australis (Schrad.) Roem. & Schult.) raw material.

Summary Southern sweet-grass (Hierochloe australis /Schrad./ Roem. & Schult.) is a perennial, wild growing tuft grass occurring in North-East Poland, Belarus and Finland. In Poland the species is under the partial legal protection. The raw material harvested from this plant are leaves rich in coumarins, mainly in coumarin responsible for specific sweet aroma of leaves. They are used mostly for the aromatization of alcohol and tobacco products. Due to high demand for the raw material and decrease in the natural resources of the species, it is advisable to introduce the plant into cultivation. In the presented study vegetative planting stock (1-, 2-, and 4-stem cuttings) were used to set the plantation of southern sweet-grass. The influence of the planting stock type on the mass of leaves and their quality in the first and second year of plant vegetation as well as the mass of seeds from two-year-old plants were investigated. The highest number of well rooted plants was obtained from 4-stem cuttings (74.07%) and the least – from 1-stem cuttings (47.53%). Both, on one- and two-year-old plantations the plants from 4-stem cuttings were characterized by the highest mass of leaves (7.73 and 24.65 g × plant -1 , respectively). The plants were also characterized by the highest number of generative shoots (40.71 pcs. × plant -1 ) and mass of seeds (4.62 g × plant -1 ). The total contents of coumarins and phenolic acids did not depend on the type of planting stock. The contents of these compounds was higher in two-year-old plants than in one-year-old ones, whereas the content of flavonoids was higher in one-year-old plants.

/pdf/setting-of-southern-sweet-grass-plantation-with-stem-5fikbo8yvs.pdf

Setting of southern sweet-grass plantation with stem cuttings obtained by division of maternal plants

Intraspecific variability of southern sweet-grass (hierochloë australis/schrad./ roem. & schult.) wild growing in poland

Summary Southern sweet-grass is a perennial grass distributed through north-eastern Europe. In Poland, this rare, partially protected plant grows wild in well-lit coniferous or mixed forests. Its leaves, rich in coumarin compounds, are used for aromatization of alcohols. Taking into account high demand on this raw material and decrease in the number of southern sweetgrass populations it is recommended to introduce the plant into cultivation systems. In this study 12 populations of southern sweet-grass were selected and assessed in terms of their cultivation usefulness. The presence of associated plant species growing on its natural sites was investigated as well as light irradiance on those stands. The species was found in 3 types of forest communities. Air dry mass of leaves per plant varied in analyzed populations from 1.73 to 11.07 g. They were significantly diversified in the total content of coumarins (0.36–0.96%), flavonoids (0.09–0.26%) and polyphenolic acids (0.13–0.29%). The diversity concerning the content of coumarin, a quality indicator of leaves, was even higher. The content of this compound varied from 52.03 to 275.74 mg/100 g d. m. Among the analyzed populations, the most interesting seem to be population No. 12 (Jedwabno) and population No. 10 (Ruciane) characterized with relatively high mass of leaves and the highest content of the identified active compounds, including coumarin.

/pdf/variability-of-southern-sweet-grass-hierochloe-australis-4tx5c58vgj.pdf

Variability of southern sweet-grass (Hierochloë australis /Schrad./ Roem. & Schult.) wild growing populations occurring in eastern Poland

The aim of the study was an ex situ evaluation of morphological and chemical variability within the population of common avens. Plant height, number of shoots, stage of generative development (number of flower buds, flowers, and fruits), as well as weight of herb and underground organs were determined. In the raw materials total content of tannins and content of particular phenolic compounds identified by HPLC was determined. In underground organs also content of eugenol – the dominant constituent of essential oil was assessed. High diversity of morphological traits (especially weight of herb and underground organs) and the content of determined compounds (especially in herb) was found. Aboveand underground organs differed in the composition and content of phenolic compounds. Underground organs were characterised by higher content of flavan-3-ols, but they did not contain chlorogenic acid, which was the dominant phenolic compound in herb.

M. Angielczyk

Papers

The influence of shading on the yield and quality of southern sweet-grass (Hierochloë australis (Schrad.) Roem. & Schult.) raw material.

Setting of southern sweet-grass plantation with stem cuttings obtained by division of maternal plants

Intraspecific variability of southern sweet-grass (hierochloë australis/schrad./ roem. & schult.) wild growing in poland

Variability of southern sweet-grass (Hierochloë australis /Schrad./ Roem. & Schult.) wild growing populations occurring in eastern Poland

Morphological and chemical variability within the population of common avens (Geum urbanum L.)