title: Chromatographic methods for metabolite profiling of virus- and phytoplasma-infected plants of Echinacea purpurea.
abstract: This study was focused on the effects of virus and phytoplasma infections on the production of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench secondary metabolites, such as caffeic acid derivatives, alkamides, and essential oil. The identification of caffeic acid derivatives and alkamides was carried out by means of high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), HPLC-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and MS(2). Quantitative analysis of these compounds was carried out using HPLC-DAD. The results indicated that the presence of the two pathogens significantly decreases (P < 0.05) the content of cichoric acid, the main caffeic acid derivative. Regarding the main alkamide, dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the content of this secondary metabolite was observed in virus-infected plants in comparison with healthy plants, while in the phytoplasma-infected sample the variation of this secondary metabolite was not appreciable. The % relative area of the E/Z isomers of this alkamide was also found to change in infected samples. The gas chromatography (GC) and GC-MS analysis of E. purpurea essential oil enabled the identification of 30 compounds. The main significant differences (P < 0.05) in the semiquantitative composition were observed for three components: limonene, cis-verbenol, and verbenone. The results indicate that the presence of virus and phytoplasma has an appreciable influence on the content of E. purpurea secondary metabolites, which is an important issue in defining the commercial quality, market value, and therapeutic efficacy of this herbal drug.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia , Via G. Campi 183, 41125 Modena, Italy. federica.pellati@unimore.it
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pellati
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Epifano
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Contaldo
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavicchi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curini
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertaccini
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bellardi
mesh_terms: D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D045582:Phytoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides