Comparative analysis of phenolic compounds, volatile components, and antioxidant capacity in leaf and flower parts of Aster caucasicus

Authors : Abidin Gümrükçüoğlu

Pages : 195-208

Doi:10.51435/turkjac.1673174

View : 30 | Download : 53

Publication Date : 2025-05-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The study presents a comprehensive phytochemical analysis of Aster caucasicus, examining both the leaf and flower parts of this plant. The researchers investigated the phenolic compound profiles using HPLC-DAD methodology, volatile compounds via SPME-GC-MS technique, and antioxidant properties through multiple assays (total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, FRAP, and CUPRAC). Results revealed significant differences between plant tissues. The flower parts contained higher total phenolic content (25.57 mg GAE/g) compared to leaves (17.81 mg GAE/g), with notably higher concentrations of compounds like gallic acid, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and quercetin. Conversely, leaves demonstrated higher total flavonoid content (5.02 mg QE/g vs. 3.99 mg QE/g in flowers) and greater antioxidant capacity in both FRAP and CUPRAC assays. Volatile compound analysis identified several bioactive components, including monoterpenes (beta-pinene, D-limonene, alpha-pinene), terpenoids, sesquiterpenes, and oxygenated heterocyclic compounds. Beta-pinene dominated in flowers (52.26%), while D-limonene was highest in leaves (28.68%). This research fills a knowledge gap regarding Aster caucasicus, suggesting its potential applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The flower parts show promise for pharmaceutical applications due to their rich phenolic content, while the leaf parts, with their high flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity, could be valuable in cosmetic products, particularly for UV protection.
Keywords : Aster caucasicus, Antioxidant capacity, Phenolics, Volatile compound

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