A Comprehensive Phytochemical Analysis of Sideritis scardica Infusion Using Orbitrap UHPLC-HRMS

Abstract

Sideritis scardica Griseb, also known as “mountain tea” and “Olympus tea” (Lamiaceae family) is an endemic plant from the mountainous regions of the Balkan Peninsula. In this study, we focused on an in-depth phytochemical analysis of S. scardica infusion using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS). Quantitative determination of the main secondary metabolites was carried out by UHPLC–HRMS analyses using the external standard method. The results revealed more than 100 metabolites, including five sugar acids and saccharides, 21 carboxylic, hydroxybenzoic, hydroxycinnamic acids, and derivatives, 15 acylquinic acids, 10 phenylpropanoid glycosides, four iridoid glycosides, 28 flavonoids, seven fatty acids, and four organosulfur compounds. Furthermore, a dereplication and fragmentation patterns of five caffeic acids oligomers and four acylhexaric acids was performed for the first time in S. scardica. Regarding the quantitative analysis, the phenylethanoid verbascoside (53) (151.54 ± 10.86 mg/g lyophilized infusion, li), the glycosides of isoscutellarein (78) (151.70 ± 14.78 mg/g li), methylisoscutelarein (82) (107.4 ± 9.07 mg/g li), and hypolaetin (79) (78.33 ± 3.29 mg/g li), as well as caffeic acid (20) (87.25 ± 6.54 mg/g li), were found to be the major compounds in S. scardica infusion. The performed state-of-the-art phytochemical analysis of S. scardica provides additional knowledge for the chemical constituents and usage of this valuable medicinal plant.

Characterization of the Sideritis scardica Extract SidTea+TM and Its Effect on Physiological Profile, Metabolic Health and Redox Biomarkers in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

“…& Heldr., S. scardica subsp. Longibracteata, known as mountain tea or Greek tea) [ 8 ], is a source rich in natural antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds with particularly beneficial effects for human health [ 9 , 10 ]. Concerning its geographic distribution, S. scardica can be found at Central Balkan Peninsula, namely in the southwest regions of Albania, northeastern regions of Greece, central and western regions of North Macedonia, the southern regions of Bulgaria, and the European part of Turkey.…”