Comparative analysis of bioactive phenolic compounds composition from 26 medicinal plants

Bioactive phenolic compounds are powerful antioxidants in traditionally used medicinal and industrial crop plants and have attracted increased interest in the last years in their application and role in non-destructive methodology for pre-screening analysis of some stress factors. In this study the qualitative target was linked with future possible applications of received data for improving non-destructive methodology as well as for improving existing knowledge regarding antioxidant content in some plant species. Comparative analysis of total phenolics, flavonoid contents, phenolic acid composition, and antioxidant activity in known east central Europe medicinal and industrial crop plants of 26 species of families <i>Asteraceae</i>, <i>Rosaceae</i> and <i>Lamiaceae</i> was done. Among the investigated leaf extracts the highest total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity have been seen for <i>Stachys byzantine</i> L. (<i>Lamiaceae</i>), <i>Calendula officinalis</i> L. (<i>Asteraceae</i>) and for <i>Potentilla recta</i> L. (<i>Rosaceae</i>). The highest syringic acid content has been found in the leaf extracts of plant family <i>Asteraceae</i> - in the range from 0.782 to 5.078 mg g^-1 DW. The representative's family <i>Rosaceae</i> has a higher content of p-anisic acid in the range 0.334-3.442 mg g^-1DW compared to the leaf extracts of families <i>Lamiaceae</i> and <i>Asteraceae</i>. The comparative study showed significant differences of content of phenolic acids in the leaf extracts of different representative's families <i>Rosaceae</i>, <i>Asteraceae</i> and <i>Lamiaceae</i>. We suggest that the presence of some phenolic acids can be used as a possible marker for family botanical specifications of representative families <i>Asteraceae</i> and <i>Rosaceae</i>. It was supposed that some pharmacological effects can be connected with the analyzed data.