title: HPLC quantification of coumarin in bastard balm (Melittis melissophyllum L., Lamiaceae).
abstract: Coumarin occurs in many plants used as flavoring and is known to possess hepatotoxic effects. Despite in the EFSA 'Compendium of botanicals containing toxic substances' coumarin is reported to be present in Melittis melissophyllum (bastard balm), a plant traditionally used as beverage in Italy and Serbia, to the best of our knowledge quantitative data has never been reported. Thus, the amount of coumarin in bastard balm leaves and its variation during the annual phenological cycle were determined. The subsp. melissophyllum resulted to contain high levels of coumarin (14,392 mg/kg), mainly in the early stages of the plant cycle, suggesting prudence in its use as beverage. Furthermore, coumarin was found to be useful as marker compound to differentiate the bastard balm subspecies occurring in Italy, since the subsp. albida contained a much lower content of this molecule (19-34 mg/kg).
authors: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Sant'Agostino 1, I-62032 Camerino, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Maggi
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Barboni
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Caprioli
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Papa
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ricciutelli
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sagratini
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Vittori
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003374:Coumarins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D007558:Italy; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D003374:Coumarins; C030123:coumarin