Planta Med 2008; 74 - PC45
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084563

Phytochemical investigation on Gentian roots from populations of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park

L Menghini 1, F Epifano 1, G Orlando 1, L Leporini 1, R Luzzi 1, S Genovese 2, MC Marcotullio 2, B Tirillini 3
  • 1Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università „G. d'Annunzio“, via dei Vestini 31 66013 Chieti, Italy
  • 2Dipartimento di Chimica e tecnologia del farmaco, Via del Liceo, 06123 Perugia, Italy
  • 3Istituto di Botanica ed Orto Botanico „P. Scaramella“, Università di Urbino, Urbino

Roots of wild Gentiana lutea L. (Gentianaceae) from six populations, differing in altitude, soil and exposition, were collected in the title National Park in 2006 and 2007. In order to identify the presence of selected chemotypes, concentrations of gentiopicroside, gentisic acid, loganic acid, total phenols and antiradical activity were determined. Each active principle was quantified by HPLC-DAD, total phenols by spectrophotometry via the Folin-Ciocalteau reaction and antiradical activity by the DPPH test. Mean amount of bitter compound gentiopicroside was in the range of 57.98–104.42mg/g d.w. with difference in 2–28% between 2006 an 2007. The high and low content of loganic acid range was from 39.48–21.38mg/g d.w., with maximum variation of 17% in samples from different years. Much less was the presence of gentisic acid, with the highest value of 0.011% in a sample from 2007. Total phenols contents were between 1.12 and 0.85% d.w. of powder. A relation, not linear, exists between total phenols content and antiradical activity. The most active sample showed highest phenols content, low percentage of inhibition in the radical reaction was exhibited by lowest amount of total phenols. In the DPPH test, at 2mg of powder/ml of reaction, the antiradical activity, expressed as inhibition percentage index, varied from 29 to 47%. In conclusion, all wild samples showed good phytochemical profile with difference that can be explained in terms of hyper-productive ecotypes rather than selected chemotypes. Results confirmed that the wild flora of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park could be a useful source of high quality plant materials, if cultivated, for production of medicinal herbs products.

Acknowledgements: Authors wish to thank European community Project LEADER+, P.S.L. ARCA ABRUZZO and Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, Assergi (L'Aquila, Italy) for financial and resource supports.

References: 1. European Pharmacopoeia. 4.5 Ed. 2003. Strasbourg (France).