Variety of active ingredients in leaves and flowers of <i>Chamaenerion angustifolium</i> (L.) Scop., depending on type of natural population

Abstract

Relevance. Nowadays the popularity of Chamaenerion angustifolium as a medicinal plant and as a tea is growing noticeably. Fireweed is an eclogically plastic species, that does not require high soil fertility and is widespread in Russia. Medical and food industries use leafs as a row material of fireweed. Series of phytochemical studies of Chamaenerion raw material have shown that it contains a wide variety of pharmacologically significant compounds, that accumulate as a result of both primary and secondary metabolism. The most important groups, formed as a result of secondary metabolism, are polyphenols, including flavonoids, phenolic acids and ellagitannins (including enothein B). Concentration of these chemical compounds equals 15% and even hither of the raw material (leaf).The aim. Identification of variability and relationships between the content of various groups of phenolic compounds in raw material of Chamaenerion angustifolium, depending on ecological conditions.Methods. At the first stage of our work was used the cartographic method. Were studied specimens from 27 points, growing in ecologically different areas of the Moscow, Kaluga and Yaroslavl regions. Phenolic compounds were determined using a spectrophotometer: flavonoids in terms of rutin, tannins and the amount of phenolic compounds, using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent in terms of gallic acid.Results. The content of polyphenols, tannins and flavonoids in raw material of fireweed, collected in different ecological and soil aspects, was measured. Measurement results were compared, using correlation analysis. As the result of content analysis, it was found that the content of polyphenols in the leaves ranged from 9 to 11%, the content of flavonoids fell within the chain range of 2.5-3.5%, tannin content – 5.0-6.5%. A close correlation was found between the content of phenolic compounds and tannins (R=0.972). It indicates, that the shikimate pathway is the main process of biosynthesis secondary metabolites in the Chamaenerion angustifolium plant. Also it means the leading role of local ecological conditions of the studied areas.