Bioactive constituents of Iris hybrida (Iridaceae): Processing effect.

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Phytochemistry
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Iris plants are rich sources of bioactive compounds crucial for pharmaceuticals.
• Understanding the influence of mineral nutrition on Iris phytochemical profiles is essential for optimizing medicinal plant cultivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of specific mineral nutrition (magnesium sulfate, iron chelates, potassium oxide) on phenolic compound content in Iris hybrida cultivars.
• To determine how mineral treatments affect the biosynthesis and accumulation of bioactive compounds in different Iris plant organs.

Main Methods:

• UV-vis spectroscopy was used to quantify total phenolic compounds in Iris rhizomes.
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was employed to identify and quantify individual isoflavonoids and xanthones.
• Analysis was conducted on Iris hybrida 'Tsikavynka', 'Tambo', and 'Widecombe Fire' treated with specific mineral nutrients.

Main Results:

• Mineral nutrition treatments led to organ-specific changes in phenolic compound composition.
• Iris rhizomes showed increased total phenolic compounds, including isoflavonoids, phenolic acids, γ-pyrones, and flavonoids.
• Specific isoflavonoids (e.g., tectoridin, genistin) and the xanthone mangiferin were elevated in rhizomes, while chlorogenic acid increased in leaves.

Conclusions:

• Iris phenylpropanoid metabolism is highly sensitive to mineral nutrition.
• Optimized mineral nutrition can enhance the content of valuable bioactive constituents in Iris plants.
• These findings support the development of cultivation strategies for medicinal Iris with improved phytochemical profiles.