Comparative Component Composition of Flowers in Several Syringa Species (Oleaceae)

Because insufficient relevant data are available, the component composition of flowers was studied comparatively in six lilac species of the genus Syringa L. (Oleaceae): S. emodi Wall., S. josikaea Jacg., S. komarowii Schneid., S. reticulata (Blume) H. Hara ssp. amurensis (Rupr.) P. S. Green et M. C. Chang, S. sweginzowii Koehne et Lingelsh, and S. vulgaris L. Plants were from the collection of the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute. Contents were established for major groups of biologically active substances (BASs): flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins, and organic acids. The highest contents of all BAS groups were observed in S. komarowii flowers: flavonoids, 4.25 ± 0.21%; hydroxycinnamic acids, 6.13 ± 0.29%; tannins, 9.3 ± 0.5%; ascorbic acid, 0.468 ± 0.022%; and organic acids, 10.7 ± 0.5%. The contents were somewhat lower in S. emodi and S. sweginzowii and minimum in S. josikaea. Comparisons of the qualitative and quantitative BAS profiles showed that certain Syringa species cultivated in the Republic of Bashkortostan are promising to further study in terms of their possible use in scientific medicine and the development of herbal remedies.