Variation in Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Extracts from Different Plant Organs of Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.)

Abstract

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.) has been widely used in the treatment of various diseases. The pharmacological properties of meadowsweet are derived from the presence of phenolic compounds of a diverse structure in sufficiently large quantities. The purpose of this study was to examine the vertical distribution of individual groups of phenolic compounds (total phenolics, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, catechins, proanthocyanidins, and tannins) and individual phenolic compounds in meadowsweet and to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of extracts from various meadowsweet organs. It was found that the leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots of meadowsweet are characterized by a high total phenolics content (up to 65 mg g−1). A high content of flavonoids was determined in the upper leaves and flowers (117–167 mg g−1), with high contents of hydroxycinnamic acids in the upper leaves, flowers, and fruits (6.4–7.8 mg g–1); high contents of catechins and proanthocyanidins in the roots (45.1 and 3.4 mg g–1, respectively); and high tannin content in the fruits (38.3 mg g–1). Analysis of extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the qualitative and quantitative composition of individual phenolic compounds in various parts of the meadowsweet varied greatly. Among the flavonoids identified in meadowsweet, quercetin derivatives dominate, namely quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3-β-d-glucoside, and quercetin 4′-O-glucoside. Quercetin 4′-O-glucoside (spiraeoside) was found only in the flowers and fruits. Catechin was identified in the leaves and roots of meadowsweet. The distribution of phenolic acids across the plant was also uneven. In the upper leaves, a higher content of chlorogenic acid was determined, and in the lower leaves, a higher content of ellagic acid determined. In flowers and fruits, a higher contents of gallic, caftaric, ellagic, and salicylic acids were noted. Ellagic and salicylic acids were also dominant among phenolic acids in the roots. Based on the results of the analysis of antioxidant activity in terms of the ability to utilize the radicals of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazolino-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and in terms of iron-reducing ability (FRAP), the upper leaves, flowers, and fruits of meadowsweet can be considered plant raw materials suitable to obtain extracts with high antioxidant activity. Extracts of plant fruits and flowers also showed high antibacterial activity against the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Medicinal Plants against Viral Infections: A Review of Metabolomics Evidence for the Antiviral Properties and Potentials in Plant Sources

“…Different plant parts such as stems, roots, leaves, and flowers, are often collected from the wild or from a cultivated environment. Due to the different distribution or constituency of various bioactive compounds in different parts of the plants [ 178 , 179 , 180 ], a thorough knowledge from literature or indigenous knowledge systems is required to determine the specific plant parts which need to be harvested for the specific application/investigation.…”

Antimicrobial Metabolites of Caucasian Medicinal Plants as Alternatives to Antibiotics

“…Overall, continued interdisciplinary research efforts are necessary to unlock the full therapeutic potential of antimicrobial compounds derived from Caucasian medicinal plants and address the pressing global challenge of antibiotic resistance. gallic acid 0.8 mg/g extract caftaric acid 0.6 mg/g extract chlorogenic acid 1.3 mg/g extract p-coumaric acid 0.2 mg/g extract catechin 4.1 mg/g extract rutin 4.8 mg/g extract isoquercitrin 2.6 mg/g extract ellagic acid 0.4 mg/g extract Gram-positive, Gram-negative [60] Middle stem 60% ethanol extract Simple phenolic compounds (phenolic acids) Polyphenols (flavonoids) gallic acid 1.3 mg/g extract caftaric acid 0.05 mg/g extract chlorogenic acid 0.2 mg/g extract ellagic acid 0.4 mg/g extract isoquercitrin 0.07 mg/g extract Gram-positive, Gram-negative [60] Flowers 60% ethanol extract Simple phenolic compounds (phenolic acids) Polyphenols (flavonoids) gallic acid 5.8 mg/g extract caftaric acid 2.9 mg/g extract chlorogenic acid 0.3 mg/g extract caffeic acid 0.1 mg/g extract p-coumaric acid 0.04 mg/g extract ellagic acid 5.8 mg/g extract rutin 4.2 mg/g extract isoquercitrin 2.4 mg/g extract spiraeoside 20.4 mg/g extract cymaroside 0.09 mg/g extract Gram-positive, Gram-negative [60] Simple phenolic compounds (phenolic acids) 2,3-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-glucose 6.9 mg/g DW sanguiin H-10 derivative 1.9 mg/g DW punicalagin gallate 9.9 mg/g DW sanguiin H-1 8.3 mg/g DW b-type (epi)catechin dimer 6.1 mg/g DW catechin 7.4 mg/g DW quercetin-galloyl-glucoside 2.9 mg/g DW quercetin-glucoside 18.6 mg/g DW kaempferol-glucuronide 7.6 mg/g DW 3-caffeoylquinic acid 1 mg/g DW caffeic acid-glucoside 2.4 mg/g DW chlorogenic acid 1.6 mg/g DW p-coumaroylquinic acid 2.8 mg/g DW Gram-positive, Gram-negative [64]…”

Natural- and in vitro-grown Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim: evaluation of pharmaceutical potential (antibacterial, antioxidant and toxicity) and phenolic profiles

“…In parallel to this result, aqueous extract of field-grown aerial parts in our study showed strong antibacterial potency againts S. aureus (Table 1). Savina et al [31] evaluated aqueous ethanol extract of various parts of F. ulmaria and observed susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to upper leaves, fruits, and flowers. Similarly, P. aeruginosa showed moderate susceptibility to aqueous and ethanol extract of fieldgrown F. ulmaria aerial parts (Table 1).…”