Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Primula veris L.: Influence of the Extraction Conditions and Purification

Abstract

Our experiments may help to answer the question of whether cowslip (Primula veris L.) is a rich source of bioactive substances that can be obtained by efficient extraction with potential use as a food additive. A hypothesis assumed that the type of solvent used for plant extraction and the individual morphological parts of Primula veris L. used for the preparation of herbal extracts will have key impacts on the efficiency of the extraction of bioactive compounds, and thus, the health-promoting quality of plant concentrates produced. Most analysis of such polyphenolic compound contents in extracts from Primula veris L. has been performed by using chromatography methods such as ultra-performance reverse-phase liquid chromatography (UPLC−PDA−MS/MS). Experiments demonstrated that the most effective extraction agent for fresh study material was water at 100 °C, whereas for dried material it was 70% ethanol. The richest sources of polyphenolic compounds were found in cowslip primrose flowers and leaves. The aqueous and ethanol extracts from Primula veris L. were characterized by a quantitatively rich profile of polyphenolic substances, and a high antioxidative potential. Selective extraction with the use of mild conditions and neutral solvents is the first step to obtaining preparations from cowslip primrose with a high content of bioactive substances.

Development and Validation of an HPLC Method for the Analysis of Flowers of Wild-Growing Primula veris from Epirus, Greece

“…Unfortunately, there are no quantitative data to allow comparison. Similarly, in the work of Tarapatskyy [10] with P. veris from Poland, several flavonol triglycosides were reported, albeit not in all of the examined samples, probably due to differences in the drying process. Since the authors characterized the extracts and not the plant material, a comparison is not possible.…”

“…Voucher specimens were taxonomically identified by one of the authors, Dr. N. Krigas, and are deposited in the Herbarium BBGK of the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources (Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter) under the IPEN (International Plant Exchange Network) codes GR-1-BBGK-19,470 (S1), GR-1-BBGK-19,414 (S2), and GR-1-BBGK-19,469 (S3). The taxonomic identification (examination under stereoscope) was based on the following criteria [27]: (i) Stout, sparsely pubescent scapes (one to several, 10-30 cm) with few (2) to several (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) flowers in a ± nodding umbel (not appearing directly from the leaf rosette), each with unequal pedicels (long and short ones; 5-25 mm), and (ii) bright yellow corolla with cylindrical tube equaling or slightly exceeding calyx (with orange spots towards base), with evident lobes (4-8 mm long) and narrowly campanulate calyx (11-20 mm) with triangular lobes (3-6 mm).…”

An In-Depth Study on the Metabolite Profile and Biological Properties of Primula auriculata Extracts: A Fascinating Sparkle on the Way from Nature to Functional Applications

“…In another study, Alinezhad et al [ 52 ] reported the best DPPH scavenging ability for the water extract of P. heterochroma with the lowest IC 50 value. Tarapatskyy et al [ 53 ] studied the chemical characterization and biological properties of different plant part extracts of P. veris with different solvents, and the best ABTS and DPPH scavenging abilities were found in the extracts obtained with 70% ethanol. Overall, in agreement with our results, the polar solvent extracts from Primula species showed greater radical scavenging abilities than nonpolar solvent extracts.…”

“…Interestingly, the radical scavenging and reducing potential of the ethanol extract of the rhizomes was significantly higher than the hydro-ethanol extract of the aerial part, and this finding is in line with the high phenolic content of the ethanol extract of P. auriculata rhizomes. In this sense, several authors also pointed out that the reducing power values of some Primula species were correlated with their total phenolic contents [ 53 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. Furthermore, several compounds (caffeic and chlorogenic acids and apigenin, etc.)…”

Zapotin, a Polymethoxyflavone, with Potential Therapeutic Attributes

“…In Europe, the identification and isolation of zapotin were carried out by using the leaves of Primula veris. Primrose roots display an important role in phytomedicine, the monograph of which can be found in the European Pharmacopoeia [47,50]…”