Chemical and Morphological Inter‐ and Intrapopulation Variability in Natural Populations of Gentiana pneumonanthe L.

Abstract

Inter-and intrapopulation variability in six natural populations of the rare species Gentiana pneumonanthe was examined based on morphological and chemical data. Population size and linear morphometric parameters differed significantly among populations, but without a clear connection to habitat conditions, i. e. water supply and light availability. Leaf shape varied from ovate to lanceolate in all populations, and one population was distinctive in having the largest number of leaves of transitional shape. HPLC analyses of six secondary metabolites were performed separately for belowground parts, and aboveground vegetative and reproductive parts of individual plants (6 populations × 7 individuals × 3 plant parts, n = 126) in order to examine differences at the population and individual levels. Three secoiridoids (swertiamarin (SWM), sweroside (SWZ), and gentiopicrin (GP)), one xanthone (mangiferin (MGF)), and two flavones (isoorientin (IO) and isovitexin (IV)) were detected and quantified in the analyzed samples: sweroside dominated in the aboveground reproductive part, mangiferin in the aboveground vegetative part, and gentiopicrin in the belowground part. At the population level, differences in contents of the analyzed chemicals among populations were significant only for a few metabolites. At the individual level, a pronounced organ-dependent distribution of secondary metabolites was revealed. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of natural variability within populations of the rare and threatened G. pneumonanthe, and provide data on the contents and within-plant distribution of secondary metabolites, which are important as pharmacologically active compounds and may be useful for further biotechnological procedures regarding this species.

Caucasian Gentiana Species: Untargeted LC-MS Metabolic Profiling, Antioxidant and Digestive Enzyme Inhibiting Activity of Six Plants

“…The following iridoids were present in much lower amounts: swertiamarin and sweroside in G. asclepiadea , G. cruciata , and G. pneumonanthe roots [27], swertiamarin and sweroside in G. cruciata herb/roots extracts [22], swertiamarin, and sweroside in G. pneumonanthe herb/roots [18]. By this data, we see a remarkable similarity between known information about iridoid content in gentian parts and the data obtained in the present study.…”

“…The roots of G. asclepiadea accumulate xanthone- O -glycoside gentioside at a low level. Mangiferin content was also determined previously in G. pneumonanthe herb (0.44–5.81 mg/g) [18] and in G. asclepiadea flowers and stem extracts (0.26–1.48 mM) [37]. In view of mangiferin’s importance as a bioactive compound, the herbs of four gentian species could be concluded to be a rich source of this xanthone, especially G. asclepiadea herb.…”

“…Only isoorientin-2″- O -glucoside was found in G. asclepiadea roots. As previously shown, the isoorientin and isovitexin content in G. pneumonanthe herb from Serbia was 0.27–2.67 and 0.12–0.88 mg/g, respectively [18]. Isoorientin was mentioned as the dominant flavonoid of some Turkish gentian herbs such as G. asclepiadea (1.00–30.72 mg/g), G. cruciata (2.41–22.78 mg/g), G. gelida (2.64–35.16 mg/g), and G. septemfida (1.17–15.19 mg/g) [24].…”

“…The main iridoid of roots was gentiopicroside for all samples and its derivative gentiopicroside-6″- O -glucoside was quantified only in roots. The earlier information showed a high content of gentiopicroside in G. asclepiadea , G. cruciata , and G. pneumonanthe roots from Hungary (50–60 mg/g) [27], G. cruciata herb/roots from East Serbia (10.67/19.57 mg/g; as extract) [22], and G. pneumonanthe roots from Serbia (40.02–56.68 mg/g) [18]. In this regard, the herbs and roots of six Caucasian gentians are a good source of gentiopicroside.…”

“…Some chemical aspects of five species ( G. asclepiadea , G. cruciata , G. gelida , G. pneumonanthe , G. septemfida ) were shown previously, but G. paradoxa is still an unstudied species. The known data include information about flavonoids (flavones only) in four species [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25], xanthones (mangiferin, gentisin and its glycosides) in three species [15,16,17,18,20,26,27], iridoid glycosides in five species [18,19,22,27,28,29,30,31,32], monoterpenes in G. pneumonanthe [32], and triterpenes and naphthodipyranodione in G. asclepiadea [32,33]. In total, thirty-nine compounds were found in five gentians with most diverse classes of flavonoids and iridoid glycosides (Table S2).…”