Spatial and Temporal Variations in Secondary Metabolites Content of the Brazilian Arnica Leaves (Lychnophora ericoides Mart., Asteraceae)

The genus Lychnophora (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used as anti-inflammatory or analgesic agent. Its biological properties have been widely investigated and correlated with its chemical composition, which could be different between the species and even accordingly to the place and season of collection. In this work, it was investigated the spatial and temporal variations in the secondary metabolites from five populations of Lychnophora ericoides. Among them, a more diversified secondary metabolism was observed for the plants collected at Ibiraci-MG (Brazil), a city placed between two biomes, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. The highest concentrations of chlorogenic acids were found in the Cerrado dry season (winter), while the flavonoids were higher during the rainy season (summer). Significant reduction was observed in the contents of all the secondary metabolites in old leaves, and also in flowery branches. These variations detected in L. ericoides leaves could highly influence the intensity of the biological activities of this plant.

菊科（Asteraceae）绒苞草属（Lychnophora）植物为传统药用植物，常被用作抗炎剂或镇痛剂。其生物学特性已得到广泛研究，并与其化学成分密切相关；而化学成分可因物种不同，甚至因采集地点与季节而异。本研究针对5个居群的欧石楠状绒苞草（Lychnophora ericoides）的次生代谢产物（secondary metabolites）时空变异展开了探究。其中，采集自巴西伊布拉西市（Ibiraci-MG）的植株次生代谢更为多样，该城市地处塞拉多（Cerrado）与大西洋森林（Atlantic Forest）两大生物群系交界地带。绿原酸类（chlorogenic acids）的最高含量出现在塞拉多旱季（冬季），而黄酮类（flavonoids）成分则在雨季（夏季）含量更高。老叶及花枝中的所有次生代谢产物含量均出现显著降低。本次在欧石楠状绒苞草叶片中检测到的上述变异，可对该植物的生物活性强度产生显著影响。