Identification of high content in carnosic acid Greek genotypes of Rosmarinus officinalis and Salvia officinalis by a fast HPLC-PDA-MS protocol

Abstract

In the framework of a national project aiming at exploring the biodiversity for the selection, development and sustainable use of Greek Medicinal and Aromatic plants, the species Rosmarinus officinalis and Salvia officinalis were selected. The selection was done based on their high content of carnosic acid which is a recognized antioxidant with wide applications in the food and cosmetic industry [1], [2]. The project includes collection of a large number of genotypes, genetic analysis by use of microsatellites and genotyping by sequencing, chemical analyses by HPLC-PDA-MS for the monitoring of production of carnosic acid. A fast extraction protocol followed by a short HPLC-PDA-MS method based on a RP-C18 column was developed and optimized for the separation of carnosic acid from carnosol from other metabolites present in the extracts. The method was validated as required prior to metabolomic analysis and showed adequate precision (%RSD ranging from 0.20 to 2.86) and accuracy (less than 15% in three concentration levels, ranging from 0.16 to 2.75). 60 different genotypes were collected from each species and evaluated for their content of carnosic acid. Quantitative results showed a great variance of the chemical content of carnosic acid among different genotypes. R. officinalis genotypes from the area of Amaliada, Elis and S. officinalis genotypes from Mesovouni, Ioannina were evidenced as the richest in carnosic acid.