Leontodon ˣgrassiorum (Asteraceae, Cichorieae), a newly discovered hybrid between an Azorean and a mainland European taxon: Morphology, molecular characteristics, and phytochemistry

Sesquiterpene lactones and their precursors as chemosystematic markers in the tribe Cichorieae of the Asteraceae revisited: An update (2008-2017)

Ten years after the first overview on sesquiterpene lactones in the Cichorieae tribe of the Asteraceae family, we present an update. This review summarizes all chemosystematically relevant reports on sesquiterpene lactones and their immediate precursors from the Cichorieae (syn.: Lactuceae) tribe of the Asteraceae published between 2008 and 2017 and also includes some corrections to the 2008 review. The number of sesquiterpene lactones and sesquiterpenic acids as immediate precursor of sesquiterpene lactones reported for the Cichorieae has increased from 360 to 475 (+32%) within one decade. The number of known source species increased from 139 to 157 (+13%) and the number of chemosystematic reports (reported compounds per taxon) increased from 838 to 1241 (+48%). Notwithstanding this high interest in sesquiterpene lactones of the Cichorieae, still only from 30 out of 94 currently accepted genera within the Cichorieae at least one sesquiterpene lactone has been reported so far.

Phytochemical Analysis of Podospermum and Scorzonera n-Hexane Extracts and the HPLC Quantitation of Triterpenes

Previously tested n-hexane extracts of the Scorzonera latifolia showed promising bioactivity in vivo. Because triterpenes could account for this activity, n-hexane extracts were analyzed by HPLC to identify and quantify the triterpenes as the most abundant constituents. Other Scorzonera and Podospermum species, potentially containing triterpenic aglycones, were included in the study. An HPLC method for simultaneous determination of triterpene aglycones was therefore developed for analysis of Podospermum and Scorzonera species. n-Hexane extracts of root and aerial parts of S. latifolia, ten other Scorzonera species and two Podospermum species were studied to compare the content of triterpenes. HPLC was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of α-amyrin, lupeol, lupeol acetate, taraxasteryl acetate, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3-β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl. Limits of detection and quantification were determined for each compound. HPLC fingerprinting of n-hexane extracts of Podospermum and Scorzonera species revealed relatively large amounts of triterpenes in a majority of investigated taxa. Lupeol, lupeol acetate, and taraxasteryl acetate were found in a majority of the species, except S. acuminata. The presence of α-amyrin, 3β-hydroxy-fern-7-en-6-one-acetate, urs-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl, 3β-hydroxy-fern-8-en-7-one-acetate, and olean-12-en-11-one-3-acetyl was detected in varying amounts. The triterpene content could correlate with the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Scorzonera, which was previously observed and Scorzonera species that have been determined to contain triterpenes in large amounts and have not yet been tested for their analgesic activity should be tested for their potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. The presented HPLC method can be used for analysis of triterpene aglycones, for example dedicated to chemosystematic studies of the Scorzonerinae.