Determination of the content of total polyphenols, non-tannin polyphenols and tannins in five species of the genus Teucrium L.

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Many species of the genus Teucrium L. are used in folk medicine. These species contain various chemical compounds that contribute to its biological activities. No literature could be found in respect of the determination of total polyphenols, non-tannin polyphenols and tannins in the species T. halacsyanum Heldr., T. hyrcanicum L. and T. scorodonia L. Quantitative analysis of polyphenols and tannins was therefore performed.

Materials and Methods: Plant material was collected over two consecutive seasons in the Pharmaceutical Botanical Garden “Fran Kušan” of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Croatia. The content of total polyphenols, non-tannin polyphenols and tannins was determined by combination of spectrophotometric and hide powder method.
Results: The quantity of total polyphenols of investigated species ranged from 0.87 to 4.1%. The content of polyphenols unadsorbed on hide powder (non-tannin polyphenols) was between 0.83 and 3.4%, while the quantity of tannins ranged from 0.04 to 1.4%. The sample of T. scorodonia that grows along the hedge contained the highest content of total polyphenols (4.1%) and tannins (1.4%), while the highest quantity of non-tannin polyphenols was found in the sample of T. chamaedrys (3.4%) collected in 2013. The sample of T. botrys collected in 2012 contained the lowest amounts of all investigated compounds.

Conclusion: For the first time the content of total polyphenols, nontannin polyphenols and tannins in the species T. halacsyanum, T. hyrcanicum and T. scorodonia is reported. The content of all investigated compounds depended on the plant species investigated and year of collection.