Articles
Evaluating the therapeutic potential: exploring the phytochemical dynamics in Echinacea spp. over two years
Article number
1439_58
Pages
439 – 446
Language
English
Abstract
The coneflower (Echinacea spp.) is rich in secondary metabolites, widely employed in traditional folk medicine.
It comprises approximately nine species, three of which are specifically used in herbal remedies.
Considering the limited exploration of compounds in two species, Echinacea pallida, and E. angustifolia, this study aimed to investigate total phenolic and flavonoid contents, chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and the antioxidant properties of roots and aerial parts obtained from three medicinal species (E. purpurea, E. pallida and E. angustifolia). The experiment was conducted over a period of two years, specifically in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, at the Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran as a completely randomized design.
The phytochemical content analysis revealed that S3 (E. angustifolia) exhibited higher concentrations of caffeic acid in both root and aerial parts, along with the highest phenol content in the roots among the three species.
Similarly, E. purpurea demonstrated the highest levels of flavonoid and chlorogenic acid in the aerial parts, along with the highest antioxidant activity in the roots.
Our results indicated that cultivating E. purpurea and E. angustifolia were favorable for medicinal purposes among the three species examined.
However, the first and second years of cultivation demonstrated variations in the amounts of phytochemicals at different harvesting times.
Specifically, E. angustifolia exhibited the highest quantity of phytochemicals in the second year.
It comprises approximately nine species, three of which are specifically used in herbal remedies.
Considering the limited exploration of compounds in two species, Echinacea pallida, and E. angustifolia, this study aimed to investigate total phenolic and flavonoid contents, chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and the antioxidant properties of roots and aerial parts obtained from three medicinal species (E. purpurea, E. pallida and E. angustifolia). The experiment was conducted over a period of two years, specifically in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, at the Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran as a completely randomized design.
The phytochemical content analysis revealed that S3 (E. angustifolia) exhibited higher concentrations of caffeic acid in both root and aerial parts, along with the highest phenol content in the roots among the three species.
Similarly, E. purpurea demonstrated the highest levels of flavonoid and chlorogenic acid in the aerial parts, along with the highest antioxidant activity in the roots.
Our results indicated that cultivating E. purpurea and E. angustifolia were favorable for medicinal purposes among the three species examined.
However, the first and second years of cultivation demonstrated variations in the amounts of phytochemicals at different harvesting times.
Specifically, E. angustifolia exhibited the highest quantity of phytochemicals in the second year.
Authors
D. Zadehdabbagh, S. Khorasaninejad, M. Mahmoudi Sourestani
Keywords
E. purpurea, E. pallida, E. angustifolia, chicoric acid, phenols, antioxidants
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