Analysis of essential oils and phenolic compounds of Potentilla fructicosa L. using chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques

Otentilla fructicosa L. is one of the most common plants, planted in greeneries. Several tens of breed (decorative forms) differ in the form and height of the bush, colour shade of leaves, the size (from 2 to 5 cm) and colour of the flower: from snow white to various yellow shades. Potentilla fructicosa L. is spread in Europe, Asia and North America. The genesis of most of its breeds is unknown. In Lithuania until the end of this decade from woody cinquefoils only Potentilla fructicosa L. was planted. The goal of this work was to determine Potentilla fructicosa L. total amount of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and radical scavenging activity and the content of essential oils using spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis methods. The experiment: methanolic Potentilla fructicosa L.extracts were prepared in this way: 0.5 g of fine-cut plant material extracted with 20 ml of 75 % methanol for 24 hours in the orbital shaker and filtrated. The total amounts of phenolic and flavonoids were determined, as well as antioxidant activity with different radicals by spectrophotometric method. HPLC was carried out to identify and quantitate phenolic compounds. Analysis of volatile compounds was carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results: the highest amount of flavonoids in Potentilla fructicosa L. was determined in 2010 during the intensive blossoming (A1) 0.080 mgRE/g, and in 2012 (A1) 0.078 mgRE/g. The highest amount of phenolic compounds was determined in 2010, 2011 and 2012 samples collected at the beginning of blossoming period (Z1) 0.422 – 0.469 mgRE/g of dry plant material. The highest radical scavenging activity was observed in sample collected in 2012. [...]