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

An HPLC-PDA method was developed for the determination of the flavonoids in the flowers of Primula veris from Epirus, Greece. The aim was to investigate the chemical content of the over-harvested P. veris populations of Epirus and to develop and optimize an extraction protocol to allow fast, exhaustive, and repeatable extraction. Qualitative analysis revealed that the P. veris flowers from Epirus were particularly rich in flavonoids, especially flavonol triglycosides including derivatives of quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol. A phytochemical investigation of a 70% hydromethanolic extract from the flowers afforded a new flavonoid, namely, isorhamnetin-3-Ο-β-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-glucopyranoside, which is also the main constituent of the flower extracts. Its structure elucidation was carried out by means of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry analyses. The HPLC-PDA method was developed and validated according to the International Council for Harmonisation guidelines. Since the main flavonol glycoside of the plant is not commercially available, rutin was used as a secondary standard and the response correction factor was determined. Finally, the overall method was validated for precision (% relative standard deviation ranging between 1.58 and 4.85) and accuracy at three concentration levels. The recovery ranged between 93.5 and 102.1% with relative standard deviation values < 5%, within the acceptable limits. The developed assay is fast and simple and will allow for the quality control of the herbal drug.

Preliminary evaluation of vegetal extract characteristics from spontaneous flora of Moldova area (Romania)

Two classical methods were applied for preparation of four plant extracts, i.e. heat reflux extraction and maceration, exactly for wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), oregano (Origanum vulgare) and primrose (Primula veris), plants from the spontaneous flora of Moldova area (Romania). The prepared extracts were preliminarily characterized by some known physical-chemical analytical methods used to evaluate various quality indicators of plant extracts (e.g. total polyphenols and flavonoids concentrations, density, viscosity) as well as comparative analysis of their UV-Vis and FTIR spectra. These vegetal extracts are non-toxic, and may have insecticide effect on the field of agricultural culture and storage pests.

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

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.

Spring flora of Lutsk and Partisan forestry of Kivertsiv National Natural Park "Tsumanska Puscha"

In the frame of identification of the Ukrainian Polissya rare vegetation the most attention is paid to the boreal species and groups. Deciduous forests with sinuses of spring ephemeroids remain unstudied in Polissya that's why the urgency of their research in the forests of Volyn Polissya is important, especially in the Kivertsy National Nature Park "Tsumanska Pushcha". The research of the spring ephemeroids composition and rare plant species identification on the territory of the plots of "Volyn Military Forestry" and "Tsumanske Forestry" within the Kivertsy National Nature Park "Tsumanska Pushcha" were aim of the study. At the beginning of the 2021 vegetation period 16 spring ephemeroids were found in 38 parcel of Lutsk forestry and 41 parcel of the Partisan Forestry (both belong to the Kivertsy NPP "Tsumanska Pushcha") by the employees of the NPP together with the scientists of Volyn National University named after Lesya Ukrainka. There were identified Adoxa moschatellina L., Allium ursinum L., Anemone nemorosa L., A. ranunculoides L., Corydalis cava Schweigg. et. Korte., C. solida (L.) Clairv., Dentaria glandulosa Waldst. & Kit., Ficaria verna Huds., Hepatica nobilis Mill., Isopyrum thalictroides L., Lathraea squamaria L., Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh., Mercurialis perennis L., Primula veris L., Pulmonaria obscura Dumort., Ranunculus cassubicus L. The monitoring research was set for populations of Allium ursinum (Ukrainian Red Data Book) and regional rare species in Volyn Region: Corydalis cava, Dentaria glandulosa, Hepatica nobilis, Isopyrum thalictroides, Hepatica nobilis (spring ephemeroids), Vinca minor (spring-flowering species) and Hedera helix (wintergreen species). The studied ephemeroid plants amount 2.52 % of the total number of vascular plants of Tsumanska Pushcha and 1.14 % of the flora of Volyn Polissya. According to the results of monitoring studies for Allium ursinum, the coenopopulation of the species generally has a left-handed spectrum, remains homeostatic, and the number of individuals is maintained by seed and vegetative propagation. Creation of the ecological trail "Spring-flowering plants of Kivertsy NPP "Tsumanska Pushcha" is proposed.