NEW SOURCES OF CONDENSED TANNINS – INVESTIGATION OF BRANCHES OF SAME SCHRUBS SPECIES THROUGH HPTLC ANALYSIS

Abstract

R. canina L., H. rhamnoides L. and P. spinosa L. species are used traditionally as medicinal plants due to phytotherapeutical and nutritional potential of fruits. The aim of this study is to identify and quantify the catechin and epicatechin in branches of these species, using qualitative (HPTLC) and quantitative (HPTLC densitometry) methods. HPTLC fingerprinting of crude methanolic extracts showed specific peaks, with different Rf values, corresponding to catechin (at Rf 0.46) evidenced in branches of all three species and epicatechin (at Rf 0.43) highlighted only in samples of P. spinosa. The quantitative evaluation by HPTLC densitometry indicated the amount of catechin in branches of R. canina (0.17% g/g in dried plant material), H. rhamnoides (0.10% g/g in dried plant material) and P. spinosa (0.25% g/g in dried plant material) and the amount of epicatechin in branches of P. spinosa (0.22% g/g in dried plant material). These vegetal species can be considered a new source of catechins.