title: Thymus lotocephalus wild plants and in vitro cultures produce different profiles of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity.
abstract: We compared the phenolic metabolites and antioxidant activities of Thymus lotocephalus G. López & R. Morales wild plants and in vitro cultures using different extraction solvents. HPLC-DAD analysis allowed the identification and quantification of phenolic (caffeic and rosmarinic) acids and flavones (luteolin and apigenin) in extracts from both sources. The in vitro cultures accumulated large amounts of rosmarinic acid. However, extracts from both sources were able to neutralise free radicals in different test systems (TEAC and ORAC assays), to form complexes with Fe(2+) and to protect mouse brains against Fe(2+)-induced lipid peroxidation. The solvent significantly influenced the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the extracts, water/ethanol being the most efficient for the extraction of antioxidant phytochemicals. We conclude that in vitro cultures of T. lotocephalus represent a promising alternative for the production of valuable natural antioxidants and an efficient tool for the in vitro biosynthesis of rosmarinic acid, therefore avoiding the need to exploit populations of wild plants.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Genomics and Biotechnology (IBB-CGB), Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentão
authors.forename: Paula B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts