Polyphenols from Eucalyptus ovata

Metabolic responses of Eucalyptus species to different temperature regimes

Species and hybrids of Eucalyptus are the world's most widely planted hardwood trees. They are cultivated across a wide range of latitudes and therefore environmental conditions. In this context, comprehensive metabolomics approaches have been used to assess how different temperature regimes may affect the metabolism of three species of Eucalyptus, E. dunnii, E. grandis and E. pellita. Young plants were grown for 53 d in the greenhouse and then transferred to growth chambers at 10°C, 20°C or 30°C for another 7 d. In all three species the leaf chlorophyll content was positively correlated to temperature, and in E. pellita the highest temperature also resulted in a significant increase in stem biomass. Comprehensive metabolomics was performed using untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography (LC)-MS. This approach enabled the comparison of the relative abundance of 88 polar primary metabolites from GC-MS and 625 semi-polar secondary metabolites from LC-MS. Using principal components analysis, a major effect of temperature was observed in each species which was larger than that resulting from the genetic background. Compounds mostly affected by temperature treatment were subsequently selected using partial least squares discriminant analysis and were further identified. These putative annotations indicated that soluble sugars and several polyphenols, including tannins, triterpenes and alkaloids were mostly influenced.

Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of phenolics in Eucalyptus globulus leaves by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Eucalyptus species are widely cultivated in Mediterranean regions. Moreover, plants of this family have been utilized for medicinal purposes. A number of studies have been devoted to the identification of eucalypt phenolics, all of them have focused on specific families of compounds, and no exhaustive profiling has been reported in leaves of this plant.

OBJECTIVE

To develop methods that allows the identification and quantification of different classes of phenolics in Eucalyptus globulus leaf.

METHODOLOGY

Acetonic extract was fractionated by chromatography on a Sephadex LH-20 column using consecutive elution with ethanol, methanol and aqueous acetone (60%). High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) were applied to determine the structure of different compounds. Quantities were evaluated from peak areas in the HPLC profile, using external calibration curves.

RESULTS

Fractionation of acetonic extract yielded three fractions: F1, F2 and F3. In total 39 phenolic compounds are detected. Among them: 16 hydrolyzable tannins, 3 terpenyl derivatives, 12 ellagic acid derivatives, 5 flavonols, 2 hydroxybenzoic acids and 1 formylated phloroglucinol. 26 compounds described in this study have not previously detected in leaves of this plant and this is the first report of quercetin 3-O-β-galactoside-6"-O-gallate and cypellogin A and B, in E. globulus plant. Quantitatively, ellagic acid derivatives and sideroxylonal A or B are largely predominant.

CONCLUSION

Fractionation of crude extract by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 was efficient to separate different molecular weight compounds. HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS enabled detection of gallotannin, ellagitannin and flavonol derivatives, in leaves of E. globulus.

Tannin composition of barbatimão species

A comparative study of tannin composition of three species known as barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens, Stryphnodendron polyphyllum and Dimorphandra mollis) was developed by TLC, hydrolysis followed by PC, and colorimetry. Principal component analysis of the data obtained showed strong differentiation between the genus Dimorphandra and Stryphnodendron. Additionally, barks from the two Stryphnodendron sp. also presented considerable differences in the tannin structure.