Abstract
Plants have been used for thousands of years for various purposes because they have a wide variety of activities with biological significance. Mexican oregano is an aromatic plant of great importance to Mexico and north of Jalisco state as a spice with important economic value. Chromatographic identification and quantification of phenolic compounds and evaluation of their antioxidant activity were important tools to obtain a better characterization of this spice. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, triterpenes, saponins, quinones and tannins, the latter at high concentrations. Through chromatographic assays of Mexican oregano extracts, 62 compounds were identified, the major ones being quantified as: taxifolin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, phlorizin, eriodictyol, quercetin, naringenin, hispidulin, pinocembrin, galangin and genkwanin (compound for the first time reported for this species). The results can be useful as a precedent to establish the bases of new quality characterization parameters and they have also suggested that Mexican oregano contains a wide variety of compounds with untapped importance for the development of new high value-added products.
Highlights
Aromatic plants and spices have been used since ancient times for several purposes.Their biological potential is related to compounds known as plant secondary metabolites or phytochemicals [1,2]
The plant material was collected from three localities of the state of Jalisco: (1) Huejuquilla (OH), located at a latitude of 22◦45 N, a length of 103◦45 O and at 1450 m above sea level; (2) Mezquitic (OM), located at 21◦99 N latitude, 103◦35 west longitude and 1380 m above sea level; and (3) Colotlan (OC), a municipality located at a latitude of 22◦12 N and a length of 103◦18 O, with an altitude of 1550 m above sea level
The obtained extracts present a total phenolic content and antioxidant activity similar, which could favor the use of this species regardless of where they come from
Summary
Aromatic plants and spices have been used since ancient times for several purposes Their biological potential is related to compounds known as plant secondary metabolites or phytochemicals [1,2]. These compounds are produced by plants in response to environmental stimuli such as defense and competition between plants systems and as attractants of beneficial organisms. These compounds have been grouped as phenolics, alkaloids and terpenes, among others [3,4]. The presence and characterization of phytochemicals in aromatic plants and spices stimulate the use and commercialization of value-added products [1,3,5,7]
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