Morphologic and Chemotaxonomic Studies of Some Teucrium L. (Lamiaceae) in Zagros Region, Iran

Abstract

The genus Teucrium L. is a well-known medicinal plant belonging to Lamiaceae family and Ajugoideae subfamily. The present study aims to evaluate the taxonomic status of the Teucrium species using both morphological and flavonoid characteristics and to determine the flavonoid classes. A total of 64 accessions belonged to eight species, and five subspecies were collected from different Zagros regions, Iran. Twenty-nine quantitative and qualitative morphological characters were studied. Extraction of leaf flavonoid was accomplished using a rotary evaporator and MeOH 90%. Identification of the chemotaxonomic position and flavonoid class of Teucrium species was investigated by thin layer chromatography, column chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Micromass Quattro micro Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometer. All information was analyzed using NTSYS pc. 2, PAST v.3.18 and Cluster Vis v. 1.8.2. According to the findings, T. polium accessions significantly revealed the highest value of morphological and flavonoid variations. All subspecies of T. orientale were definitely separated, but some relationships were observed between its subspecies, including taylori and glabrescens. All members of two sections of Polium and Teucris were definitely recognized. A total of seven flavonoid classes were determined from which the highest amounts of abundance were attributed to flavones (18) and isoflavones (17). In conclusion, morphological and flavonoid markers were introduced as appropriate characteristics in the taxonomic relationships of Teucrium species. All the evidence of the present research was first described for Iran.