Insight into the Secondary Metabolites of Geum urbanum L. and Geum rivale L. Seeds (Rosaceae)

The present study aimed at the identification and quantitation of phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and further characteristic substances in the seeds of Geum urbanum L. and Geum rivale L. For this purpose, individual components of extracts recovered with MeOH, CH₂Cl₂, and by cold-pressing, respectively, were characterized by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MSⁿ and GC/MS and compared with reference compounds. For both Geum species, phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and gallic acid derivatives, and triterpenes, such as saponins and their aglycones, were detected. Surprisingly, both Geum species revealed the presence of derivatives of the triterpenoid aglycons asiatic acid and madecassic acid, which were characterized for the first time in the genus Geum. Furthermore, the fatty acids of both species were characterized by GC–MS after derivatization. Both species showed a promising fatty-acid profile in terms of nutritional properties because of high proportions of unsaturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid and linolenic acid were most abundant, among other compounds such as palmitic acid and stearic acid. In summary, the present study demonstrates the seeds of G. urbanum and G. rivale to be a valuable source of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive phenolics, which might be exploited for nutritional and cosmetic products and for phytotherapeutic purposes.

Phytochemical Profiles, Physicochemical Analysis, and Biological Activity of Three Colchicum Species

Background: Colchicum is a genus of the Colchicaceae family with various isolated compounds, especially tropolone alkaloids and flavonoids, which are used for osteoarthritis, gout, cancer, inflammatory diseases, jaundice, and sexual impotence in different societies. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical and physicochemical properties and anti-inflammatory activities of three Colchicum species. Methods: Total tropolone alkaloid, total phenolic/total tannin, and total flavonoid contents were determined using acidic potassium dichromate, Folin-Ciocalteu, and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Moreover, the HPLC method was used for identification and quantitation purposes of tropolone alkaloids. Physicochemical properties of three Colchicum species, including macroscopic and organoleptic properties, solubility, foreign matter, ash values, and heavy metal contents, were evaluated. Besides, in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of the corms also were determined using the protein denaturation technique as a rapid screening method. Results: The highest levels of tropolone alkaloid, phenolic compounds, tannins, and flavonoids were observed in C. autumnale, C. speciosum, and C. robustum, respectively. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of colchicine, demecolcine, 2-demethyl colchicine, 3-demethyl colchicine, colchicoside, colchifoline, cornigerine, and N-deacetyl-N-formyl colchicine in these Colchicum species. The physicochemical properties of C. speciosum and C. robustum corms are appropriate compared to the standard Colchicum autumnale corm. Moreover, all Colchicum species exhibited high anti-inflammatory activities compared to standard drugs. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the corm of the Colchicum species contained similar main compounds with different amounts, as well as appropriate physicochemical properties. Moreover, the valuable biological effects of these plants stimulate the cultivations on a large scale.