Globoidnan A, rabdosiin and globoidnan B as new phenolic markers in European‐sourced comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) root samples. Issue 4 (5th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trifan, Adriana; Wolfram, Evelyn; Esslinger, Nils; Grubelnik, Andreas; Skalicka‐Woźniak, Krystyna; Minceva, Mirjana; Luca, Simon Vlad
• Is Part Of: Phytochemical analysis. Volume 32:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 482
• Page End: 494
• Publication Date: 2020-10-05
• Subjects: high‐resolution mass spectrometry -- phenolic markers -- pyrrolizidine alkaloids -- rosmarinic acid -- Symphytum officinale L; Plants -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Plants -- chemistry -- Periodicals; 572.2
• DOI: 10.1002/pca.2996
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-0344

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey, Boraginaceae) is a cultivated or spontaneously growing medicinal plant that is traditionally used for the treatment of bone fractures, hematomas, muscle pains and joint pains. A wide range of topical preparations and dried roots for ex tempore applications are marketed in European drug stores or pharmacies. Objective: The aim of this study was to perform the qualitative and quantitative analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and phenolic compounds in the hydroethanolic extracts of 16 commercial comfrey root batches purchased from 12 different European countries. Methods: Liquid chromatography hyphenated with high‐resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS/MS) was used for the profiling of PAs and phenolic compounds, whereas LC‐MS/MS and liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC‐DAD) were used for their quantification. Results: 20 PAs (i.e. intermedine, lycopsamine, acetylintermedine, acetyllycopsamine, symphytine, symphytine‐ N ‐oxide), 17 phenolic compounds (i.e. caffeic and rosmarinic acids, rabdosiin, globoidnan A, globoidnan B) and 9 nonphenolic compounds (sugars, organic and fatty acids) were fully or partly annotated in the analysed samples. In addition, the quantitative analyses revealed that globoidnan B, rabdosiin and globoidnan A are new phenolic markers that can be used together with rosmarinic acid and PAs for the quality control of commercial comfrey root batches. Conclusions: This study brings new insights into the phytochemical complexity of S. officinale, revealing not only numerous toxic PAs, but also a significant number of valuable phenolic compounds that could contribute to the bioactivities of comfrey‐based preparations. Abstract : A total of 16 hydroethanolic extracts of commercial comfrey ( Symphytum officinale L.) root batches purchased from 12 different European countries were analyzed by LC‐HRMS/MS, revealing 20 pyrrolizidine alkaloids, 17 phenolic compounds and 9 nonphenolic compounds (sugars, organic and fatty acids). In addition, the quantitative analysis showed that globoidnan B, rabdosiin and globoidnan A are new phenolic markers that can be used together with rosmarinic acid and pyrrolizidine alkaloids for the quality control of commercial comfrey root batches.