Abstract

RODRIGUEZ CHANFRAU, Jorge Enrique  and  RODRIGUEZ FERRADA, Carlos. Harvest time influences on coumarin and umbelliferone contents in extracts of Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (tilo). Rev Cubana Farm [online]. 2014, vol.48, n.3, pp.477-485. ISSN 0034-7515.

Introduction: Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (Acanthaceae) is medicinal plant species commonly used in Cuba for the treatment of nervous disorders because of its sedative effect. Coumarin is one of its main active phytochemicals present in the extracts obtained from this plant and used as analytic marker in quality control. On the other hand, this compound contributes to the sedative effect attributed to this plant. Objective: to evaluate the influence of harvest time on the coumarin and umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin) in Justicia pectoralis extracts. Methods: the experiment lasted two years. The harvest was performed at 4, 6 and 8 months after planting. Aqueous and hydroalcohol extracts were produced and the coumarin and umbelliferone contents were determined by high resolution liquid chromatography. Results: the achieved results showed the presence of coumarin and umbelliferone in both extracts. Both methods can be used for the extraction of these components from the plant, although in the case of umbelliferone, the best extraction results were achieved by using aqueous extract. In both cases, the recovery percentages were more than 98 %. This study confirmed that the harvest time significantly influences on the coumarin and umbelliferone contents. Conclusions: the best results are observed in the first two harvests (4 and 6 months at summer time), which indicates that the industry should process the vegetal material in these two periods of the year.

Keywords : coumarin; HPLC; influence of harvest time; Justicia pectoralis Jacq; umbelliferone.

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