Abstract
Zinnia elegans (syn. Zinnia violacea) is a common ornamental plant of the Asteraceae family, widely cultivated for the impressive range of flower colors and persistent bloom. Given its uncomplicated cultivation and high adaptability to harsh landscape conditions, we investigated the potential use of Z. elegans as a source of valuable secondary metabolites. Preliminary classification of compounds found in a methanolic extract obtained from inflorescences of Z. elegans cv. Caroussel was accomplished using HR LC-MS techniques. The extract was then subjected to solid-phase extraction and separation using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, which resulted in several fractions further investigated for their antioxidant properties through lipoxygenase inhibition and metal chelating activity assays. Moreover, following additional purification procedures, structures of some active ingredients were established by NMR spectroscopy. The investigated fractions contained polyphenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acids and apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin glycosides. Antioxidant assays showed that certain fractions exhibit moderate 15-LOX inhibition (Fr 2, IC50 = 18.98 μg/mL) and metal chelation (e.g., Fr 1-2, EC50 = 0.714–1.037 mg/mL) activities as compared to positive controls (20.25 μg/mL for kaempferol and 0.068 mg/mL for EDTA, respectively). For Fr 2, the 15-LOX inhibition activity seems to be related to the abundance of kaempferol glycosides. The NMR analyses revealed the presence of a kaempferol 3-O-glycoside, and a guanidine alkaloid previously not described in this species.
Highlights
The Zinnia genus, belonging to the Asteraceae family, is comprised of species grown worldwide for their ornamental role
Initial chromatographic analyses of the methanolic extract obtained from Z. elegans Jacq
A multistep purification procedure led to the isolation of some compounds, which were further analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry, one-dimensional 1 H, and 13 C-NMR
Summary
The Zinnia genus, belonging to the Asteraceae family, is comprised of species grown worldwide for their ornamental role. Such species are very popular especially in North America, the origin of the genus, the center of its diversity being placed in Mexico [1,2]. Given its main use as an ornamental plant, very few studies focus on the analysis of secondary metabolites found in the plant in correlation with the plant’s therapeutic potential. Some investigations revealed the presence of several classes of natural compounds in certain organs of the plant. Studies of alcoholic extracts obtained from the whole plant or from leaves revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, steroids, and glycosides [4,5]
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