Determination of the content of total polyphenols, non-tannin polyphenols and tannins in five species of the genus Teucrium L.

Background and Purpose: Many species of the genus Teucrium L. are used in folk medicine. These species contain various chemical compounds that contribute to its biological activities. No literature could be found in respect of the determination of total polyphenols, non-tannin polyphenols and tannins in the species T. halacsyanum Heldr., T. hyrcanicum L. and T. scorodonia L. Quantitative analysis of polyphenols and tannins was therefore performed. Materials and Methods: Plant material was collected over two consecutive seasons in the Pharmaceutical Botanical Garden “Fran Kušan” of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Croatia. The content of total polyphenols, non-tannin polyphenols and tannins was determined by combination of spectrophotometric and hide powder method. Results: The quantity of total polyphenols of investigated species ranged from 0.87 to 4.1%. The content of polyphenols unadsorbed on hide powder (non-tannin polyphenols) was between 0.83 and 3.4%, while the quantity of tannins ranged from 0.04 to 1.4%. The sample of T. scorodonia that grows along the hedge contained the highest content of total polyphenols (4.1%) and tannins (1.4%), while the highest quantity of non-tannin polyphenols was found in the sample of T. chamaedrys (3.4%) collected in 2013. The sample of T. botrys collected in 2012 contained the lowest amounts of all investigated compounds. Conclusion: For the first time the content of total polyphenols, nontannin polyphenols and tannins in the species T. halacsyanum, T. hyrcanicum and T. scorodonia is reported. The content of all investigated compounds depended on the plant species investigated and year of collection

Quantitative analysis of polyphenols in eighteen Hypericum taxa

Background and Purpose: Phenolics are one of the most ubiquitous groups of plant secondary metabolites, which play an important role in plant stress tolerance, growth, reproduction, resistance to pathogens, pigmentation and etc. In this study we have analysed the content of polyphenols in the aerial parts of eighteen cultivated Hypericum taxa, collected over two consecutive seasons. No peer-reviewed literature could be found regarding determination of the quantities of polyphenols present in themajority of the analyzed taxa of the native or cultivated samples. Quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds was therefore investigated. Materials and Methods: The content of phenolic compounds (total polyphenols, nontannin polyphenols and tannins) in the aerial parts of eighteenHypericumtaxa collected over two consecutive seasons was determined by spectrophotometric methods. Results: The quantity of the total polyphenols of investigated taxa (Table 1), ranged from 3.96 to 16.88%. The highest content of total polyphenols was found in the samples of H. kouytchense (16.88%) collected in 2011 andH. hookerianum(14.75%) collected in 2012, while the samples ofH. richeri subsp. grisebachii contained the lowest amount of total polyphenols (4.55 and 3.96%). The average content of tannins in the majority of investigated samples was found to be two times higher than the content of nontannin polyphenols, but in the rest of the samples, themost often ratio of tannins to nontannin polyphenols was 1:1. Conclusion: The variable content of polyphenols examined here, probably reflects the plant adaptation to seasonal changes in its environment. The occurrence of these metabolites in the taxa explored, hopefully will contribut

Etnobotaničko istraživanje o uporabi biljaka u ljekovite svrhe na području Svetog Ivana Zeline

An ethnobotanical field study focused on traditional uses of medicinal plants were conducted in 7 villages in the Sveti Ivan Zelina region. Interviews with 10 elderly informants were conducted using standard ethnobotanical methods. The uses of 24 vascular plants species were recorded. Mainly infusions and decoctions were quoted as folk medicinal preparations and the most commonly quoted plant medicinal uses referred to diseases of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Comparison of the collected data with the ethnobotanical findings of previously conducted studies in the surrounding areas shows great similarity

Genetic structure in Hypericum perforatum L. population

Background and Purpose: Population structure in Hypericum perforatum L., a hybrid apomictic plant species of medicinal importance, was studied using RAPD markers. The total of 109 samples collected from various locations in Croatia were compared on the basis of RAPD profiles obtained by amplifications with six primers. Materials and Methods: Total cellular DNA was extracted from the samples collected from 8 locations in Croatia. PCR amplification was performed using 6 decamer oligonucleotide primers. Allele frequencies were computed according to Bayesian method with non-uniform prior distribution. The number of polymorphic loci (95% criterion) and Nei’s gene diversity for population and the group of subspecies were calculated using program package AFLP-SURV 1.0. Results and Conclusions: The results obtained show gene diversity in H. perforatum L. in a range between 0.121 and 0.301. Three populations had significantly lower level of diversity, four populations had slightly higher, while one population was polymorphic. Higher polymorphism of one population as well as variations in values between different populations may be explained by residual fertility and outcrossing which may have occurred in some populations. High fixation index (0.331) indicates limited gene flow as the consequence of prevaling apomixis

Određivanje količine flavonoida i fenolnih kiselina u pet vrsta roda Teucrium L.

The content of flavonoids and phenolic acids in the aerial parts of five Teucrium species (T. botrys, T. chamaedrys, T. halacsyanum, T. hyrcanicum and T. scorodonia) was determined using spectrophotometric methods. Results of quantitative analysis showed significant differences in the quantities of studied compounds. The content of flavonoids ranged from 0.12 to 0.28 %, while the quantity of phenolic acids varied between 1.19 and 9.60 %. Variations in the content of flavonoids and phenolic acids were confirmed using statistical analysis. The content of investigated compounds depended on the plant species and year of collection

Kvantitativna analiza polifenola u nekim vrstama roda Teucrium L.

The research was conducted on the leaves and stems of the following species of the genus Teucrium: T. scordioides, T. fruticans and T. polium. Species of the genus Teucrium are widespread troughout the Mediterranean region and are used in folk medicine as antidiabetics, diuretics, diaphoretics, expectorants, cholagogues, spasmolytics and antiinflamatory drugs. The quantity of polyphenols was determined using spectrophotometric methods. The results were compared between different species, plant parts and, for T. polium, different collection sites. T. fruticans contained the highest quantity of flavonoids, 0.437% (0.347% in the leaves and 0.090% in the stems) and the lowest quantity of phenolic acids, 4.05% (2.67% in the leaves and 1.38% in the stems). T. polium (Korčula) contained the highest quantity of phenolic acids, 5.72% (3.67% in the leaves and 2.05% in the stems) and the lowest quantity of flavonoids, 0.150% (0.125% in the leaves and 0.025% in the stems). The content of flavonoids and phenolic acids was higher in the leaves than in the stems. T. scordioides contained the highest quantity of total polyphenols, 15.63% while T. polium (Lastovo) contained the lowest quantity, 10.71%. The quantity of tannins ranged from 1.00 to 4.02%. T. polium collected on Korčula contained higher quantity of phenolic acids, total polyphenols, polyphenols unadsorbed on hide powder and lower quantity of flavonoids and tannins than the same species collected on Lastovo

Quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds of Inula candida (L.) Cass.

Background and Purpose: Some species of the genus Inula L. are used in herbal medicine. Phenolic compounds contribute to many biological activities of the plants. No literature could be found in respect of the determination of the quantities of phenolic compounds of Inula candida. Quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in different plant parts was therefore performed. Materials and Methods: Plant material was collected from different locations in Croatia. The content of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolic acids, total polyphenols, nontannin polyphenols and tannins) was determined by spectrophotometric methods. Results: The quantity of flavonoids ranged from 0.008 to 0.079%, while the content of phenolic acids varied between 0.411 and 1.423%. The content of total polyphenols ranged from 1.53 to 3.57%. The quantity of polyphenols unadsorbed on hide powder (nontannin polyphenols) was between 0.56 and 1.99%, while the quantity of tannins ranged from 0.96 to 2.22%. The highest contents of all phenolic compounds were found in leaves, whereas stems contained the lowest quantities. Conclusion: The content of all investigated compounds depended on the plant organ investigated, date of collection, and localit