Abstract
The leaves and twigs of the desiccation-tolerant medicinal shrub Myrothamnus flabellifolia are harvested for use in traditional and commercial teas and cosmetics due to their phenolic properties. The antioxidant and pharmacological value of this plant has been widely confirmed; however, previous studies typically based their findings on material collected from a single region. The existence of phenolic variability between plants from different geographical regions experiencing different rainfall regimes has thus not been sufficiently evaluated. Furthermore, the anthocyanins present in this plant have not been assessed. The present study thus used an untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry approach to profile phenolics in M. flabellifolia material collected from three climatically distinct (high, moderate, and low rainfall) regions representing the western, southern, and eastern extent of the species range in southern Africa. Forty-one putative phenolic compounds, primarily flavonoids, were detected, nine of which are anthocyanins. Several of these compounds are previously unknown from M. flabellifolia. Using multivariate statistics, samples from different regions could be distinguished by their phenolic profiles, supporting the existence of regional phenolic variability. This study indicates that significant phenolic variability exists across the range of M. flabellifolia, which should inform both commercial and traditional cultivation and harvesting strategies.
Highlights
Plants have been the subjects of phytochemical investigations due their production of a diversity of phytonutrients, many of which are valued for their antioxidative properties
An assessment of the phenolic compounds present in M. flabellifolia indicates that the plant possesses significant potential as a source of phenolic antioxidants
41 phenolic compounds, including eight anthocyanins, were tentatively identified from M. flabellifolia leaf material originating from eight populations sampled from across three major geographic regions using
Summary
Plants have been the subjects of phytochemical investigations due their production of a diversity of phytonutrients, many of which are valued for their antioxidative properties. Numerous studies have focused on beneficial plant-derived beverages; two common examples include red wine and tea. It has been established that the phenolics present in plant extracts as secondary metabolites, including phenols, phenolic acids such as hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, and flavonoids, contribute inordinately to the overall antioxidant capacity and towards protection against pathogens and UV radiation [1]. The dietary intake of these phenolic compounds has been associated with lower rates of cancer [2], cardiovascular disease [3], and diabetes [4]. (Gunnerales, Myrothamnaceae) is a medicinal shrub that is distributed in the summer rainfall regions of southern Africa.
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