HPLC-DAD-(ESI)-MS/MS analysis as the first step to metabolic fingerprinting of medicinal herbs: the case of underexploited Euphorbia species
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The genus Euphorbia comprises more than 2,000 species widely distributed in Asia, Africa and Latin
America. They have been extensively used in folk medicine to treat disorders such as abdominal pain,
skin diseases, tumors, wart, among others¹. Although the well-recognized ethnopharmacological
relevance of Euphorbia species, most of them have not been studied yet, such as Euphorbia hirta and
Euphorbia jokinii. In this context, screening the bioactive molecules potentially responsible for the
observed medicinal effects is an initial, but key step for discovering novel active compounds and
understanding the mechanisms of action underlying their biological activities. Thus, this study aimed
at determining the phenolic compounds composition of E. Hirta and E. jokinii. Both plants were freezedried,
milled, and extracted with ethanol:water (60:40 v/v) for 3 hours at 45 °C. After centrifugation,
the extracts were freeze-dried, re-suspended in ethanol:water (20:80 v/v), filtered and injected into
the HPLC-DAD-(ESI)-MS/MS system. The phenolic profile of E. Hirta and E. Jokinii revealed mainly the
presence of flavonoids and galloyl derivatives. Thirty-two compounds were tentatively identified in E.
Hirta and twenty-two in E. Jokinii. Quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside was the major compound in both species,
with E. Hirta showing the highest content (10.5 mg/g vs 8.2 mg/g extract). Our results indicate that E.
Hirta and E. Jokinii, yet underexploited Euphorbia species, are interesting sources of flavonoids.
Further studies should evaluate the relationship between these compounds and the biological
activities of these plants, as well as establish possible related mechanisms of action.
