Antioxidant Contents in a Mediterranean Population of Plantago lanceolata L. Exploited for Quarry Reclamation Interventions

Abstract

Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) is an interesting multipurpose perennial species whose aerial parts are used in herbal medicine due to its precious phytochemicals and are palatable to animals. Moreover, peculiar traits such as drought tolerance, an extended growth season and a deep root system, make plantain a promising pioneer plant for quarry reclamation based on the use of native species. This study evaluated the effects of different environmental conditions and seasons on the accumulation of the bioactive compounds of its aerial organs. An autochthonous plantain population was grown in three locations in Sardinia (Italy). Leaves, peduncles and inflorescences were collected between October 2020 and July 2021. Phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity were determined. The analysis of the individual phenolic compounds was performed using liquid chromatography. In leaves, the content of total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and total flavonoids were significantly influenced by location and season. Total phenolic content ranged from 65 to 240 g gallic acid equivalent kg−1, whereas total flavonoids were from 16 to about 89 g catechin equivalent kg−1. Neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, cryptochlorogenic acids, verbascoside, diosmin and luteolin were identified in the methanolic extracts of leaves, peduncles and inflorescences. Verbascoside was the main antioxidant isolated from plantain extracts. Results evidenced an increasing accumulation pattern of phenolics from vegetative stage to flowering, followed by a decrement towards the seed ripening as well as site-specific differences with amounts of phenolics even 25% higher for same plantain accession.

Experimental study on effect of Plantago lanculata leaves extract on contaminated excisional wound healing in rabbits

“…have a role in reduction of inflammation it when used as a moist dressing. And in other studies by (31,32) who explained shortens the inflammatory healing phase associated using of moist dressing and produces good cosmetic results.…”

Studies Regarding the Pharmaceutical Potential of Derivative Products from Plantain

“…Plantain ( Plantago lanceolata ) has been used since ancient times in traditional medicine, either as such or in the form of tinctures, decoctions, or infusions. At the base of the medicinal properties are the active principles [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ], with antioxidant, and antitumor properties [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ] as polysaccharides [ 10 , 11 , 12 ], polyphenols [ 3 , 5 , 8 ] alkaloids, terpenoids (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid), caffeic acid derivatives (plantamajoside, acteoside or verbascoside), iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol), fatty acids (palmitic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid), vitamins [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], macroelements and microelements [ 13 ]. Analytical studies performed on the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Plantain showed that it contains a wide range of organic compounds, with fatty acids representing about 41% of the oils fraction [ 2 ].…”

“…were loliolid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and sitosterol acid 18 β-glycyrrhetinic. Another important class in Plantaginaceae is that of iridoid glycosides; aucubin was noticed as the main iridoid glycoside in Plantago major —this species may also contain small quantities of asperuloside, majoroside, 10-hydroxymajoroside, 10-acetoxymajoroside, catapol, gardoside, geniposidic acid, melittoside [ 1 , 8 ]. The iridoid glycosides content from Plantago lanceolata attain 2–3% ( w / w ); the main compounds found here are acucubin, catalpol, asperuloside, globularin, and desacetylasperuloside-acid methyl ester [ 11 , 14 ].…”

“…Research performed on Plantain from Isparta, Turkey, by Bahadori et al [ 7 ] reveals the existence of compounds such as verbascoside, phenylethanoid glycosides, phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid), as well flavonoid glycosides (i.e., hesperidin, hyperoside) in the alcoholic extract, analyzed by LC–ESI–MS/MS [ 7 ]. Sanna and collab [ 8 ], in the studies performed on alcoholic extracts obtained from Plantain developed from germplasm of Sardinia, Italy, found that in the case of plants cultivated on three types of soils, the content of polyphenolic compounds attains a maximum level in leaves in January and April. Researchers found in the alcoholic extract of Plantain leaves compounds such as chlorogenic acid, neo chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and verbascoside.…”

“…According to the reported data, Plantago lanceolata Plants 2022, 11, 1827 2 of 23 contains up to 1 g of total phenolic compounds per 100 g of vegetal material, regardless of whether the plant is obtained from controlled crops or spontaneous flora [5][6][7]. The main phenolic compounds are caffeic acid and luteolin and apigenin derivates [5,7,8,11].…”