Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596400
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sage at the botanic garden: GC-MS characterization of the lipophilic epicuticular depositions and tissue content

C Giuliani
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DISFARM), University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milan, Italy
2   Ghirardi Botanic Garden, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, I-25088 Toscolano Maderno (Brescia), Italy
,
F Gelmini
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DISFARM), University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milan, Italy
,
G Beretta
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DISFARM), University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milan, Italy
,
L Santagostini
3   Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, I-20133 Milano, Italy
,
R Ascrizzi
4   Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
,
G Flamini
4   Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
,
G Fico
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DISFARM), University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, I-20133 Milan, Italy
2   Ghirardi Botanic Garden, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, I-25088 Toscolano Maderno (Brescia), Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

 

A deep characterization of the metabolite profile of four target species – Salvia verticillata, S. uliginosa, S. blepharophylla and S. greggii – preserved at the “G.E. Ghirardi” Botanic Garden of the University of Milan (Toscolano Maderno, Brescia), was achieved. In particular, we evaluated and compared the composition of (i) the lipophilic epicuticular exudates with (ii) the lipophilic tissue content of both leaves and flowers. Selective solvent extractions were carried out with acetone (after soaking of the entire leaves and flower), and n-hexane (after grinding of the plant material), respectively, and the dried extracts analyzed by GC-MS after derivatization with HCl-saturated methanol.

The composition of all the extracts was dominated by:

  • hydrocarbon compounds (24.0 – 86.0%), with the exception of the leaf n-hexane extract of S. uliginosa (0.7%) and of the acetone and n-hexane extracts of S. greggii obtained both from leaves and flowers (2.6% and 5.2%);

  • fatty acids (e.g., υ3 linolenic acid ranging from n.d. in S. uliginosa up to 29.0% in the n-hexane extract of S. greggii flowers).

In addition, it is noteworthy the occurrence and the different distribution pattern of triterpenic structures endowed with anti-inflammatory activity among the species. Indeed, α- and β-amyrins, β-sitosterol, kaurenoic acid, abietic acid and isopimaric acid were partitioned between the epicuticular depositions and the tissue content. In particular, the highest percentages of all of these compounds were detected in Salvia species from Central and South American regions compared to the native European S. verticillata. Hence, considering the standardized plant growing conditions, these differences can be attributed to intrinsic intra-species variations in the metabolic pathways across the examined sages, rather than to different pedo-climatic and ecological factors.

Acknowledgements: Funding from Piano di Sostegno della Ricerca 2015 – 2017 from the University of Milan.

Keywords: Salvia spp., epicuticular exudates, GC-MS, anti-inflammatory activity.