Phytochemical analysis of biologically active compounds of Artemisia dubia Wall. using spectrophotometric and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analytical methods

Abstract

Energy crops are becoming increasingly popular in the modern world. These plants are grown as a cheap and low maintenance alternative for many energy fields. However, many of them are not examined well (because their only purpose is to obtain energy), but they can also accumulate many other valuable substances that can be used to improve the quality of life, for example, in the field of health improvement. One such plant is from the Artemisia tribe - Artemisia dubia Wall. (1) The aim of this investigation was to identify biologically active compounds, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds of Artemisia dubia Wall. A. dubia was collected from three different experimental areas with fertilization type: non-fertilized and fertilized with two mineral nitrogen fertilizers of different nitrogen amount: N90 fertilizer and N170 fertilizer, during different period of vegetation: beginning of blossoming, mass blossoming, end of blossoming (2). Samples were obtained from two different regions of Lithuania: Akademijos, Kedainiai district. (55.3896 ° N, 23.8624 ° E) and Vėžaičiai, Klaipėda district. (55.7175 ° N, 21.4713 ° E). Collected raw material was air-dried in Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. In this research, using modified spectrophotometric analysis methods (3) were evaluated the total amount of phenolic compounds (using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent), the total amount of flavonoids (using AlCl3 reagent) and the antioxidant activity (using the DPPH reagent). All the highest values were obtained from samples from Vėžaičiai, in samples with no fertilizers, at the beginning of the blossoming of the Artemisia dubia Wall.: the results showed that the biggest amount of phenolic compounds in rutin equivalents (RE) is 103.12 RE mg/g, flavonoids - 13.15 RE mg/g and the antioxidant activity - 56.49 RE mg/g. [...]