Phytochemical Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and HPLC Polyphenols Profiling of Echinops ritro L. ecotypes

In this research, phytochemical compounds, antioxidant activity and polyphenolic compounds of ۲۷ ecotypes of Echinops ritro were investigated. Total carotenoid and beta-carotene were evaluated as plant pigments. Total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity and total carbohydrate content were measured using Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride, anthrone and ۲,۲‐diphenyl‐۱‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods, respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and Principal component analysis (PCA) were done among the traits using Minitab software. R software based on Pearson's method was used for correlation between data. The highest levels of total carotenoid content (۱۶.۱۷ μg/g FW) and beta-carotene (۰.۰۲۴ mg/g FW) were obtained in G۱۹. The value of total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity and total carbohydrate content were ranged between ۵.۴۲-۲۲.۶۰ mg GAE/g FW, ۱.۵۶-۴.۲۱ mg QUE/g FW, ۲.۳۰-۱۶.۵۲ mg AA/g FW and ۱.۷۶-۶.۶۶ mg/g FW, respectively. p-coumaric acid (۵۳۸.۲۹ μg/g FW) were revealed as major phenolic compounds of Echinops ecotypes, being an order of magnitude higher than the others. Based on HCA and PCA, twenty-seven of Echinops ecotypes were divided into four main groups. Quantitative phenolic compounds were detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The findings showed that G۱۹, G۲۵, G۱۲, G۴, G۱۵ and G۴ of Echinops ecotypes can be considered as an excellent source of total carotenoid content and beta-carotene, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, total carbohydrate content and p-coumaric acid, respectively. Therefore, the information from this research can be useful for introducing valuable Echinops ecotypes for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries as well as breeding projects.

کلیدواژه ها:

Echinops ritro ، phytochemical ، Antioxidant activity ، High-performance liquid chromatography