Comparative analysis of specialized metabolites and antioxidant capacity in vitro of different natural populations of Globularia spp.

Abstract

Total phenolic, flavonoid, condensed tannin and iridoid content, as well as antioxidant capacityin vitro,were determined spectrophotometrically in methanolic extracts of different plant parts of the Mediterranean medicinal plantGlobularia alypumL. and three widespread European species of the same genus:G. cordifoliaL.,G. meridionalis(Podp.) O. Schwarz andG. punctataLapeyr. In order to consider possible environmental influences on the production of specialized metabolites, each species, exceptG. alypum, was collected from three different natural populations. Great variations in the amounts of specialized metabolites were observed among different plant parts and species. For example, total phenolic content ranged from 10.13 (G. punctata, flowers) to 44.90 (G. cordifolia, flower stems) mg gallic acid equivalent g−1dry weight. Moreover, great differences, attributed to location-specific environmental factors, were observed among different populations of the same species. For example, a strong positive correlation was observed among mean monthly temperatures and total phenolic contents in the leaves of studiedGlobulariaspp. (r = 0.75, p = 0.019). However, despite these differences, all species were rich in bioactive substances when compared toG. alypum, especially in their aerial parts. A very good positive correlation was observed between total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity (r = 0.86, p < 0.001)/ABTS radical scavenging capacity (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). The results obtained show thatG. cordifolia,G. meridionalisandG. punctataare rich in bioactive substances, providing support for their pharmaceutical utilization. Further investigations are needed to verify the possibility of their medicinal use.

Chemical fingerprint and bioactivity evaluation of Globularia orientalis L. and Globularia trichosantha Fisch. & C. A. Mey. using non‐targeted HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS approach

“…Some members of the genus, in particular, G. alypum, are widely used as healing agents along the area of their distribution. Globularia alypum is used for a variety of purposes such as hypoglycaemic agent, laxative, cholagogue, stomachic, purgative, sudorific, and also in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and renal diseases . In Egypt, G. arabica Jaub.…”

“…Harborne and Williams reported that 6‐hydroxyluteolin was the most abundant phenolic aglygon in all the Globularia species they investigated. The highly investigated G. alypum was found to be exceptionally rich in phenolic compounds in comparison with some other medicinal plants . Literature data indicate that the chemical profiles of the related member of Globularia genus are similar to that of G. alypum , making them potentially useful sources of bioactive molecules.…”

The Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) Leaves as Source of BACs: Effect of Growing Location, Phenological Stage and Extraction Solvent on Phenolic Content

“…( 41 ), the highest phenolic content of Pseudevernia furfuracea , Evernia prunastri and Ramalina farinacea grown in Morocco was determined during late winter and spring when temperatures were lower and precipitation rates higher. Numerous studies have also confirmed that the phenolic content can be strongly influenced by climatic conditions, harvesting location, time and phenological plant stage ( 42 , 43 ).…”

Explaining Intricate Morphometric Variability with Environmental Predictors: The Case of Globularia cordifolia Species Complex

“…Moreover, it should be noted that lack of characteristics that would support the separation of G. cordifolia and G. meridionalis into different species was recently recorded by Friščić [71], who studied different aspects of Globularia species from Croatia. On the basis of molecular [1,5], phytochemical [18,72,73], and karyological data [6,22,71], as well as previous morphological data [6,21,22], G. meridionalis formed a continuum with G. cordifolia and might be considered without any taxonomical value as indicated also by earlier studies of plant material from Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Macedonia [6,[21][22][23][24]. Concerning G. neapolitana, the single population that we sampled (N-MO) falls within the same morphological pattern, and might therefore be included as a heterotypic synonym of G. cordifolia.…”

“…Some Globularia species are well known for their medicinal use [16,17]. Accordingly, several species of Globularia have been phytochemically investigated, given their contents in iridoids and phenolic compounds with potential biological applications [18]. Conversely, in the last decades, the genus has been scarcely studied from a taxonomical point of view, with some exceptions [1,7,[19][20][21].…”