Polyphenolic Compounds, Triterpenes, Carlina Oxide, Antioxidant Activity and Carbohydrate Profile of Different Vegetal Parts of Carlina vulgaris L., Carlina acanthifolia All. and Carlina corymbosa L.

Abstract

It is known that plants from the Carlina genus possessed many biologic activity due to the bioactive compounds. The  current study investigates the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant potential of the different vegetal parts of  Carlina vulgaris L., Carlina acanthifolia All. and Carlina corymbosa L. The samples (roots and aerial part) were collected  from Bulgaria (Golo Bardo and Vlahina mountains). Total phenols, flavonoids, individual phenolic compounds, triterpenes, phytosterols, carlina oxide, fructans, and individual sugars were determined. Antioxidant potential was  evaluated using four methods. The highest total phenolic content was found in ethanol extract from C. acantifololia All.  roots. Three phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and salicylic acid), three flavonoids (rutin, hesperidin, and  quercetin), and triterpenes (lupeol and betulin) were detected in all samples (mainly in roots). However, p-Coumaric acid and ursolic acid were detected only in C. vulgaris, while carlina oxide was found only in C. acantifololia All. roots. The  result showed that the roots of C. acanthifolia All. were characterized by appreciable amounts of total fructans (20 g/100  g dry weight), while inulin represented 18-12 g/100 g of dry weight. Sugars were found in all plant materials. The current  study provides data about the chemical composition of extracts obtained from three members of the Carlina  genus and their use as a source of antioxidants, phenolic compounds, carlina oxide, and inulin-type prebiotics.