Quantitative analysis of lignans from the fruits of wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm.)

Abstract

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm., known as wild chervil, is a perennial widespread Apiaceae species. Being rich in lignans, it was used in traditional medicine to treat headaches, as analgesic, antipyretic, diuretic, antitussive, antihypertensive etc. Quantitative studies of lignans in Anthriscus sylvestris are limited to a few dominant lignans in roots and herbs. Hereby, the HPLC-MS method was used to quantify 14 lignans in fruit extract of A. sylvestris. A much higher content of lignans (970.2 mg/g) was found, compared to the previously analyzed root and herb extracts (4.3-66 mg/g) from the same location. The three most abundant lignans were found to be deoxypodophyllotoxin (867 mg/g), yatein (61.0 mg/g) and dimethylmatairesinol (27.7 mg/g). A significant amount of deoxypicropodophyllotoxin was also detected, but not quantified due to lack of reference standard. Due to previously observed spontaneous interconversion of cis/trans isomers, nemerosin and isochaihulactone, as well kaerophyllin and isokaerophyllin, were quantified together. Based on the obtained results, the fruits of A. sylvestris could be used as an industrial raw material for obtaining deoxypodophyllotoxin. This is also supported by a significantly simpler lignan profile of the fruit extract.