Andrea Balázs

Comparative evaluation of Helichrysi flos herbal extracts as dietary sources of plant polyphenols, and macro- and microelements

Abstract The inflorescence of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench ( Helichrysi flos syn. Stoechados flos ) has long been known in herbal medicine in Europe for its choleretic, diuretic, antiinflammatory and detoxifying activities. Organic bioactive compounds and the inorganic element content of Helichrysi flos drugs of different origin (from cultivation or from the commercial network) and their water extracts were examined. The polyphenol and flavonoid content in the drug (61.4–92.3 and 9.4–12.7 g kg −1 , respectively) and tea samples (1200–1730 and 47–71 mg l −1 , respectively) were determined by a spectrophotometric method. The concentration of 23 macro- and microelements was measured in crude drugs and their water extracts by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES). The cultivated drug sample from 1999 (Hungary) contained aluminum (353 mg kg −1 ), chromium (6 mg kg −1 ), copper (19 mg kg −1 ), manganese (349 mg kg −1 ) and phosphorus (2907 mg kg −1 ) in highest level, while the concentration of barium (19 mg kg −1 ), calcium (7575 mg kg −1 ), iron (159 mg kg −1 ), and zinc (59 mg kg −1 ) was highest in a commercial sample from 1998 (Poland).

HPLC Analysis of the flavonoids in pharmaceutical preparations from canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

SummarySolidago canadensis L., Canadian goldenrod (Asteraceae) has been used in European phytotheraphy for centuries as a component of urological and antiphlogistical remedies. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode-array detection (DAD) and online mass spectrometry (MS) has been used for the separation and quantification of phenolics (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rutinoside (nicotiflorin), quercetin-3-O-β-D-rutinoside (rutin), quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactoside (hyperoside), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside (isoquercitrin), quercetin-3-O-β-D-rhamnoside (quercitrin), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (afzelin) and quercetin from Solidaginis herba. Extracts have been obtained using different technologies. Three aqueous and three alcoholic extracts were studied separately. Reversedphase high-performance liquid chromatography separation of polyphenols on octadecyl sorbent Hypersil was performed, using acetonitrile: acetic acid 2.5 v/v % as eluent in gradient elution. Our results confirm previous reports concerning the presence of several flavonoids. Quantification of the main quercetin glycosides in pharmaceuticals is also reported.

Growth regulator requirement for in vitro embryogenic cultures of snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L.) suitable for germplasm preservation

In this study, we report on the production of bulb scale-derived tissue cultures capable of efficient shoot and plant regeneration in three genotypes of snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L., Amaryllidaceae), a protected ornamental plant. For culture line A, high auxin and low cytokinin concentration is required for callus production and plant regeneration. The type of auxin is of key importance: α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at concentrations of 2 mg L-1 or 2-10 mg L-1 NAA with 1 mg L-1 N6-benzyladenine (BA), a cytokinin on full-strength media are required for regeneration. Cultures showing regeneration were embryogenic. When lines B and C were induced and maintained with 2 mg L-1 NAA and 1 mg L-1 BA, they produced mature bulblets with shoots, without roots. Line A produced immature bulblets with shoots under the above culture condition. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis showed that (i) genetic differences between line A and its bulb explants were not significant, therefore these tissue cultures are suitable for germplasm preservation, and (ii) different morphogenetic responses of lines A, B and C originated from genetic differences. Culture line A is suitable for field-growing, cultivation and germplasm preservation of G. nivalis and for the production of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.