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Planta Med 2018; 84(12/13): 902-912
DOI: 10.1055/a-0594-9527
Natural Product Chemistry and Analytical Studies
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Identification, Isolation and Determination of Biomarkers for Quality Control of Bush Tea (Athrixia phyllicoides)[*]

Lefa J. Lerotholi
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
,
Sushil K. Chaudhary
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
,
Weiyang Chen
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
,
Clinton G. L. Veale
2   Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
,
Sandra Combrinck
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
3   SAMRC Herbal Drugs Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
,
Alvaro M. Viljoen
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
3   SAMRC Herbal Drugs Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 30 October 2017
revised 18 January 2018

accepted 15 March 2018

Publication Date:
13 April 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Athrixia phylicoides, known as “bush tea”, grows abundantly in South Africa. An infusion of the leaves is used as a beverage and to treat a multitude of health conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical variation within A. phylicoides and to identify characteristic compounds for quality control. Samples from 12 locations in South Africa were analysed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the aligned ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry data indicated two groups on the resulting dendrogram, representing 48 samples. Five marker compounds, identified through visual inspection and the construction of a discriminant analysis model, were evident on the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS profiles. Four of these compounds were isolated and identified, three as hydroxy methoxyflavones and the fourth as a coumarate, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array method was developed and validated for the determination of the marker compounds using the isolates as standards. The limits of detection for the four compounds ranged from 0.92 – 2.50 µg/mL. Their recoveries at three concentration levels (1.00, 10.0, and 100 µg/mL) were between 97.0 and 101%, while acceptable intra- and inter-day precision was obtained as reflected by percentage relative standard deviation values below 2.24%. The concentrations of all the marker compounds were found to be higher in samples corresponding to Group 1 of the dendrogram than in those from Group 2. This may be attributable to differences in altitude, climate, and some edaphic factors. Identification of these marker compounds will make a valuable contribution towards the quality control and sustainable commercialisation of bush tea.

Key words

Athrixia phylicoides - Asteraceae - chemometrics - UPLC - NMR - quality control

* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Robert Verpoorte in recognition of his outstanding contribution to natural products research.


Supporting Information

    Total ion and PDA chromatograms of the dichloromethane crude extract of A. phylicoides, the UPLC-MS chromatograms of the isolated compounds, 1H and 13C NMR spectra of compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well as HMBC spectra are available as Supporting Information. In addition, the voucher numbers and sites where the samples were collected and details on the mobile phase combinations used for column chromatography are also included.

  • Supporting Information
 

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