Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) Koch: Morphological and phytochemical variability of twelve accessions from the Swiss alpine region

Abstract

Ostruthin, a natural bioactive compound mainly occurring in the roots of Peucedanum ostruthium , is the focus of this study. P. ostruthium was collected from twelve locations in the Swiss alpine region and reared in an experimental field, subdivided into twelve lots over two years. In the spring and fall, a portion of each of the twelve accessions was harvested and separated into above and below ground plant parts. The dried plants were then extracted with 60 % ethanol using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and analyzed using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).The above and below ground plant parts were then analyzed concerning their dry matter yield (DMY), their ostruthin concentration and their ostruthin yield. Focusing on ostruthin, it was found that the below ground plant parts harvested in the fall rendered the highest ostruthin yield. Furthermore, a variability concerning ostruthin among the twelve accessions was found. This variability among the accessions is of interest with regards to a breeding program used to develop a cultivar with a high ostruthin yield.