Phytochemical study-Biological activities and application of q 1H-NMR method to determination of paeoniflorin/gnetin in three Paeonia species, endemic in Greece

Paeonia, is the single genus in Paeoniaceae, distributed in Europe and Asia. Peony is named after Paeon, student of Greek father of medicine Asclepius and has been cultivated in China since the Han dynasty named the “king of flowers” and “flowers of richness and honor” [1]. We report herein, the phytochemical study on black fertile seeds (BS) and red infertile ones (RS) of three endemic Greek paeony species: Paeonia clusii subsp. rhodia, P. clusii subsp. clusii and P. mascula subsp. Mascula, not previously studied.

Several stilbene derivatives of resveratrol (cis, trans forms, viniferin, gnetin H), flavonoid glycosides of luteolin, monoterpene glycoside paeoniflorin, unique in all peonies, etc have been isolated and structurally determined. Moreover, q1H-NMR methodology has been used to measure peoniflorin and gnetin H content in extracts of studied species and different plant parts: BS, RS, pericarps and leaves. P. clusii rhodia (BS) appeared as the richest source of gnetin H (24.96%). Paeoniflorin was the most abundant metabolite in P. clusii clusii (BS) 34.05%,>(RS) 29.64%,>leaves 19.11%>perisperms: 13.26%. P. mascula mascula (BS) 28.91%,>(RS) 22.5%, and perisperms 9.02%. P. clusii rhodia: leaves 14.44%>perisperms 14.76%. q1H-NMR appeared as essential tool for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the examined crude extracts.

The total phenolic content was evaluated (Folin-Ciocalteu method) showing extremely high values (103.63–289.97 mg GAE/g), comparably strong antioxidative and anti-tyrosinase properties, in the case of gnetin H higher than kojic acid. Further studies on paeonies are ongoing.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021

• References

• 1 Zhang et al. J. Agric. Food Chem., 2019; 67: 6765–72