Identification of antioxidant polyphenolics from Jasione montana based on a preliminary LC-MS profiling

Jasione montana (Campanulaceae) known as sheep's bit scabious is biennial, rarely annual plant, occurring commonly throughout Europe [1]. Ethnopharmacological report emphasizes its role in sleep disorders in children, although its biological activity have not been yet assessed [2]. According to the literature, little is also known about the presence of undefinable phytochemicals in J. montana [3]. For the first time antioxidant activities of fractions obtained from sheep's bit scabious using different in vitro antioxidant models were also evaluated. The ethyl acetate fraction showed highest antioxidant activity, both for DPPH (IC₅₀= 19.03 µg/mL) and for O2-· (IC₅₀= 5.77 µg/mL) assays. An analytical approach based on LC-ESI-MS was applied to rapidly obtain a metabolite profile of all fractions obtained from the aerial parts of J. montana. Finally, in all investigated fractions ten polyphenolic compounds (1-10) were identified. Among them, eight rare derivatives of luteolin have been reported. Till now, two known flavonoids namely luteolin (1) and luteolin 7-glucoside (2) have been isolated and their structures have been unambiguously elucidated by extensive chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, including UV and NMR experiments. Isolation and identification of further flavonoid compounds from the investigated fractions is being carried out.

This study was financially supported by the Grant (No. N/ST/ZB/16/004/2212) from the Medical University of Bialystok (Poland). The study was conducted with the use of equipment by the Medical University of Bialystok as part of the OP DEP 2007 – 2013, Priority Axis I.3, contract No. POPW.01.03.00 – 20 – 001/12.

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