Phenolic and carotenoid composition of Rhododendron luteum Sweet and Ferula communis L. subsp. communis flowers

Abstract

The biologically important potential of polyphenols and carotenoids from plants motivates the exploration of new natural sources and medicinal uses for these chemicals. Plants with colorful flowers are used not only for the benefits of bioactive compounds but also for smart textile materials and as colorants. In this study, quantification of phenolic compounds and carotenoids in Rhododendron luteum Sweet and Ferula communis L. subsp. communis flowers were determined. The flowers of these plants were analysed for the first time in Türkiye. While catechin (297.36±3.42 µg/g), 4-OH benzoic acid (179.28±2.87 µg/g) and salicylic acid (178.98±2.42 µg/g) are found to be relatively higher in R. luteum Sweet flowers compared to other phenolic compounds, relatively higher amounts of rutin (335.95±4.32 µg/g) and ferulic acid (367.10±4.11 µg/g) were found in F. communis L. subsp. communis flowers. On the other hand, lutein and β-carotene were detected in both species, whereas astaxanthin (4.46±0.21 µg/g) was found only in R. luteum. This phytochemical information may be important for the proper utilization of these plants as sources of phenolic compounds and carotenoids for a variety of possible commercial applications.

Keywords

• Carotenoids; extraction
• Ferula communis L. subsp. communis
• phenolic compounds
• Rhododendron luteum Sweet

References

1. Akaberi, M., Iranshahy, M., & Iranshahi, M. (2015). Review of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of giant fennel (Ferula communis L. subsp. communis). Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 18(11), 1050.
2. Alan, S., Kurkcuoglu, M., Goger, F., & Baser, K. H. C. (2010). Morphological, chemical and indumentum characteristics of Rhododendron luteum Sweet (Ericaceae). Pakistan Journal of Botany, 42(6), 3729-3737.
3. Bindu, S., Mazumder, S., & Bandyopadhyay, U. (2020). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and organ damage: A current perspective. Biochemical Pharmacology, 180, 114147.
4. Ceylan, S., Cetin, S., Camadan, Y., Saral, O., Ozsen, O., & Tutus, A. (2019). Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of traditional medicinal plants from the Erzurum region of Türkiye. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971-), 188(4), 1303-1309.
5. Collenette, S. (1985). Illustrated guide to the flowers of Saudi Arabia. Scorpion.
6. Demir, S., Turan, I., & Aliyazicioglu, Y. (2016). Selective cytotoxic effect of Rhododendron luteum extract on human colon and liver cancer cells. Journal of Balkan Union of Oncology, 21(4), 883-888.
7. Demir, S., Turan, I., & Aliyazicioglu, Y. (2018). Cytotoxic effect of Rhododendron luteum leaf extract on human cancer cell lines. KSU Tarim ve Doga Dergisi-K Journal of Agriculture and Nature, 21(6).
8. Erdemoglu, N., Akkol, E. K., Yesilada, E., & Calış, I. (2008). Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive principles from a folk remedy, Rhododendron ponticum L. leaves. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 119(1), 172-178.

9. Erdogan, A., Karatas, A. B., Demirel, Z., & Dalay, M. (2022). Induction of lutein production in Scenedesmus obliquus under different culture conditions prior to its semipreparative isolation. Turkish Journal of Chemistry, 46(3), 796-804.
10. Goleniowski, M., Bonfill, M., Cusido, R., & Palazon, J. (2013). Phenolic Acids 63. Phenolic Acids. In Natural Products; Ramawat, K., Mérillon, JM, Eds.
11. González, Y., Torres-Mendoza, D., Jones, G. E., & Fernandez, P. L. (2015). Marine diterpenoids as potential anti-inflammatory agents. Mediators of Inflammation, 2015.
12. Graf, B. A., Milbury, P. E., & Blumberg, J. B. (2005). Flavonols, flavones, flavanones, and human health: epidemiological evidence. Journal of Medicinal Food, 8(3), 281-290.
13. Gunther, R. T. (1959). The greek herbal of dioscortdes. New York, Hafner.
14. Heywood, V. H. (1972). The Biology and Chemistry of the Umbellifercre. London, Academic Press.
15. Heywood, V. H. (1993). Flora conservation. Naturopa, 71, 24-25.
16. Iranshahy, M., & Iranshahi, M. (2011). Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida oleo-gum-resin) -A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 134(1), 1-10.
17. Itagaki, S., Oikawa, S., Ogura, J., Kobayashi, M., Hirano, T., & Iseki, K. (2010). Protective effects of quercetin-3-rhamnoglucoside (rutin) on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat small intestine. Food Chemistry, 118(2), 426-429.
18. Jaiswal, R., Jayasinghe, L., & Kuhnert, N. (2012). Identification and characterization of proanthocyanidins of 16 members of the Rhododendron genus (Ericaceae) by tandem LC-MS. Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 47(4), 502-515.
19. Li, G., Wang, J., Li, X., Cao, L., Lv, N., Chen, G., ... & Si, J. (2015). Two new sesquiterpene coumarins from the seeds of Ferula sinkiangensis. Phytochemistry Letters, 13, 123-126.
20. Lin, C. Y., Lin, L. C., Ho, S. T., Tung, Y. T., Tseng, Y. H., & Wu, J. H. (2014). Antioxidant activities and phytochemicals of leaf extracts from 10 native Rhododendron species in Taiwan. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014.
21. Łyko, L., Olech, M., & Nowak, R. (2022). LC-ESI-MS/MS characterization of concentrated polyphenolic fractions from Rhododendron luteum and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Molecules, 27(3), 827.
22. Maggi, F., Papa, F., Dall’Acqua, S., & Nicoletti, M. (2016). Chemical analysis of essential oils from different parts of Ferula communis L. growing in central Italy. Natural Product Research, 30(7), 806-813.
23. Mahomoodally, M. F., Sieniawska, E., Sinan, K. I., Picot-Allain, M. C. N., Yerlikaya, S., Baloglu, M. C., ... & Zengin, G. (2020). Utilisation of Rhododendron luteum Sweet bioactive compounds as valuable source of enzymes inhibitors, antioxidant, and anticancer agents. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 135, 111052.
24. Malkoc, M., Laghari, A. Q., Kolayli, S., & Can, Z. (2016). Phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of Rhododendron ponticum: Traditional nectar source for mad honey. Analytical Chemistry Letters, 6(3), 224-231.
25. Marchi, A., Appendino, G., Pirisi, I., Ballero, M., & Loi, M. C. (2003). Genetic differentiation of two distinct chemotypes of Ferula communis (Apiaceae) in Sardinia (Italy). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 31(12), 1397-1408.
26. Marin, C., Cantor, M., Szatmari, P., & Sicora, C. (2014). Rhododendron luteum Sweet. and Rhododendron hirsutum L. in habitats from Central Europe. ProEnvironment, 7(20), 165-172.
27. Miski, M., Mabry, T. J., & Bohlmann, F. (1986). Fercoperol, an unusual cyclic-endoperoxynerolidol derivative from Ferula communis subsp. communis. Journal of Natural Products, 49(5), 916-918.
28. Nouri, Z., Fakhri, S., Nouri, K., Wallace, C. E., Farzaei, M. H., & Bishayee, A. (2020). Targeting multiple signaling pathways in cancer: The rutin therapeutic approach. Cancers, 12(8), 2276.
29. Olech, M., Łyko, L., & Nowak, R. (2020). Influence of accelerated solvent extraction conditions on the LC-ESI-MS/MS polyphenolic profile, triterpenoid content, and antioxidant and anti-lipoxygenase activity of Rhododendron luteum sweet leaves. Antioxidants, 9(9), 822.
30. Parfionov, W. I. (1987). Po Stronicam Krasnoy Knigi. Bielorusskaya Sovietskaya Enciklopedia, Minsk. Pietta, P. G. (2000). Flavonoids as antioxidants. Journal of Natural Products, 63(7), 1035-1042.
31. Popescu, R., & Kopp, B. (2013). The genus Rhododendron: an ethnopharmacological and toxicological review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 147(1), 42-62.
32. Rahali, F. Z., Kefi, S., Bettaieb Rebey, I., Hamdaoui, G., Tabart, J., Kevers, C., ... & Hamrouni Sellami, I. (2019). Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of different aerial parts extracts of Ferula communis L. Plant Biosystems-An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 153(2), 213-221.
33. Rahali, F. Z., Lamine, M., Rebey, I. B., Wannes, W. A., Hammami, M., Selmi, S., ... & Sellami, I. H. (2021). Biochemical characterization of fennel (Ferula communis L.) different parts through their essential oils, fatty acids and phenolics. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Hortorum Cultus, 20(1), 3-14.
34. Saleem, M., Alam, A., & Sultana, S. (2001). Asafoetida inhibits early events of carcinogenesis: a chemopreventive study. Life sciences, 68(16), 1913-1921.
35. Sawidis, T., Theodoridou, T., Weryszko-Chmielewska, E., & Bosabalidis, A. (2011). Structural features of Rhododendron luteum flower. Biologia, 66(4), 610-617.
36. Seroczyńska, A., Korzeniewska, A., Sztangret-Wiśniewska, J., Niemirowicz-Szczytt, K., & Gajewski, M. (2006). Relationship between carotenoids content and flower or fruit flesh colour of winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.). Folia Horticulturae, 18(1), 51-61.
37. Singh, M. M., Agnihotri, A., Garg, S. N., Agarwal, S. K., Gupta, D. N., Keshri, G., & Kamboj, V. P. (1988). Antifertility and hormonal properties of certain carotane sesquiterpenes of Ferula jaeschkeana. Planta Medica, 54(06), 492-494.
38. Seker, M. E., Ay, E., Karacelik, A. A., Huseyinoglu, R., & Efe, D. (2021). First determination of some phenolic compounds and antimicrobial activities of Geranium ibericum subsp. jubatum: A plant endemic to Türkiye. Turkish Journal of Chemistry, 45(1), 60-70.
39. Zanwar, A. A., Badole, S. L., Shende, P. S., Hegde, M. V., & Bodhankar, S. L. (2014). Antioxidant role of catechin in health and disease. In: Watson R. R., Preedy V. R., Zibadi S. (eds) Polyphenols in human health and disease (pp. 267-271). Academic Press.