Quantification of polyacetylenes in apiaceous plants by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode...

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Plant Science

Background:

• Polyacetylenes exhibit diverse biofunctional properties across organisms.
• Falcarinol, falcarindiol, and falcarindiol-3-acetate are key polyacetylenes found in plants.
• The Apiaceae family is a significant source of these compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a streamlined method for polyacetylene screening and quantification in Apiaceae species.
• To investigate the occurrence and distribution of major polyacetylenes in six Apiaceae genera.
• To report novel findings on the presence of falcarindiol-3-acetate in specific plant species.

Main Methods:

• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array and mass spectrometric detection.
• Development of a simplified sample preparation protocol for polyacetylene analysis.
• Identification and quantification using retention times, UV/Vis spectra, mass spectrometry, and authentic standards.
• Confirmation of standard identity via FT-IR, GC-MS, HPLC-MSn, and NMR spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• A reliable HPLC-based method was established for polyacetylene analysis in Apiaceae.
• Significant variations in polyacetylene content and composition were observed in the storage roots of studied plants.
• The first-time occurrence of falcarindiol-3-acetate in Anthriscus sylvestris and Pastinaca sativa was documented.
• Falcarinol, falcarindiol, and falcarindiol-3-acetate were identified and quantified across six Apiaceae genera.

Conclusions:

• The developed method is effective for polyacetylene analysis and authenticity control in Apiaceae.
• The study identified variations in polyacetylene profiles, highlighting potential for targeted breeding.
• Findings facilitate the identification of new plant sources rich or poor in specific polyacetylenes for agricultural and research purposes.