Introduction and phytochemical analysis of Satureja montana L. grown at Kaunas Botanical garden of Vytautas Magnus university

Abstract

The research work presents details of introduction of Satureja montana L. since 1979 in collection of spice-melliferous plants of Sector of Medicinal Plants at Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University and its phytochemical analysis results. The raw material of this medicinal and spice plan was collected and dried in 2011. Satureja montana L. is an perennial 20-40 cm height subshrub plant, belonging to Lamiaceae Lindl. family. The plant is rich in biologically active compounds, such as polyphenols and essential oils. Liquid extraction with aqueous methanol was carried out for spectrophotometric analysis of total amount of phenolic compounds, total amount of flavonoids and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantitated using high performance liquid chromatography. For assessment of radical scavenging of individual phenolic compounds the on-line post-column DPPH reaction detection was carried out. For qualitative and quantitative analysis of essential oils the solid phase microextraction coupled with GC-MS was used. The results obtained demonstrate the variety and complexity of the biologically active compounds present in Satureja montana L grown in the Middle Lithaunia climatic conditions. The results correlate with that obtained for Satureja montana L grown in South European region where from the plant originates.