Abstract
Natural populations of Gentiana asclepiadea L., located at two mountainous sites, were HPLC-analyzed regarding the contents of six representative secondary metabolites. The contents of swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), sweroside (SWZ), mangiferin (MGF), isoorientin (ISOOR), and isovitexin (ISOV) were determined in six populations (three per study site), and separately for aboveground and belowground plant parts. PCA showed a clear separation of four groups according to the contents of the analyzed secondary metabolites. Out of six analyzed compounds, five were present in all samples and only one (SWZ) was found in Golija populations (belowground parts) but not in Vlasina populations, and its presence can be indicative of the geolocation of populations. Clear separation of groups was mostly affected by the different contents of chemical compounds in plant parts (aboveground versus belowground) and by the differences related to population origin (higher content of SWM and GP in belowground parts of individuals from Vlasina populations and higher content of MGF and ISOOR of individuals from Golija populations). The results of this study contribute to the spatiochemical profiling of G. asclepiadea populations and a better understanding of inter- and intrapopulation variability of pharmacologically important compounds.
Highlights
The genus Gentiana comprises about 400 species primarily distributed throughout the Eurasian mountainous regions, while some species are found in lowlands and some are distributed in diverse habitats in the Andes, India, New Zealand, and Southern Australia [1]
Clear separation of groups was mostly affected by the different contents of chemical compounds in plant parts and by the differences related to population origin
HPLC analysis of G. asclepiadea plants revealed the presence of six major compounds— secoiridoid glucosides swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), and sweroside (SWZ); xanthone mangiferin (MGF); and two C-glucoflavones isoorientin (ISOOR) and isovitexin (ISOV)
Summary
The genus Gentiana comprises about 400 species primarily distributed throughout the Eurasian mountainous regions, while some species are found in lowlands and some are distributed in diverse habitats in the Andes, India, New Zealand, and Southern Australia [1]. Most gentian species are valued as medicinal and ornamental plants and are intensively researched due to the presence of pharmacologically important phytochemicals. Gentians are prescribed by many traditional pharmacopoeias and incorporated into more than a hundred official drugs, owing to their most important active constituents, secoiridoid glycosides and xanthones [2]. Gentiana asclepiadea L., Willow gentian, native to mountains of Central and Southern Europe, is 1 of 11 gentian species present in Serbian flora [3]. It mostly occurs at high altitudes approaching the subalpine belt, at mountain ores, wet meadows, peat bogs, light forests, and forest edges, and is most frequently found in spruce forests. Perennial species (15–60 cm high) blooming from July to September are characterized by the strong, thick rhizome that is used as a traditional remedy for hepatitis infections and digestive problems [4]
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