Qualitative and quantitative analyses of some Plantago species from Serbia and Montenegro

Plantago species are widely distributed in Europe and 14 species are described in the Flora of Serbia [1]. The aerial parts of some species are used in folk and modern medicine for a wide range of diseases including problems linked digestive and respiratory problems, skin, and infectious diseases, pain relief and cancer [2]. Previous chemical studies on some Plantago species have shown the presence of iridoids and various phenolics [2]. In our study, different extracts of Plantago lanceolata L. (cultivated in the Tara mountain), P. reniformis Beck., P. schwarzenbergiana Schur. and P. atrata Hoppe leaves were analysed using HPTLC, HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS. Methods for simultaneous quantification of aucubin, luteolin, luteolin-7-glucoside, apigenin and apigenin-7-glucoside were developed. Among the extracts tested, the 50% ethanolic extract was chosen. The amount of secondary metabolites varied among the species investigated. Based on HPLC analyses, the highest amount of aucubin was found in P. atrata, which was about 3 times higher than in P. lanceolata and P. schwarzenbergiana, and 10 times higher than in P. reniformis. Flavonoids were most abundant in P. atrata and P. lanceolata. Total phenol content (gallic acid equivalent) of leaves was estimated using the Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent and determination of tannins was done according to Ph Eur V. The amount of total phenolics varied from 8.01–14.9mg GAE/g DW while tanin content was between 0.22–1.81%. Moreover, xanthone-C-glucoside mangiferin was detected in leaves extract of P. atrata only.

References: 1. Josifovic M. (1974) Flora of Serbia. SANU.

2. Samuelsen A. B. (2000)J. Ethnopharmacol. 71:1–21.