title: Organic acids composition of Cydonia oblonga Miller leaf.
abstract: Organic acid profiles of 36 Cydonia oblonga Miller leaf samples, from three different geographical origins of northern (Bragança and Carrazeda de Ansiães) and central Portugal (Covilhã), harvested in three collection months (June, August and October of 2006), were determined by HPLC/UV (214nm). Quince leaves presented a common organic acid profile, composed of six constituents: oxalic, citric, malic, quinic, shikimic and fumaric acids. C. oblonga leaves total organic acid content varied from 1.6 to 25.8g/kg dry matter (mean value of 10.5g/kg dry matter). Quinic acid was the major compound (72.2%), followed by citric acid (13.6%). Significant differences were found in malic and quinic acids relative abundances and total organic acid contents according to collection time, which indicates a possible use of these compounds as maturity markers. Between June and August seems to be the best period to harvest quince leaves for preparation of decoctions or infusions, since organic acids total content is higher in this season.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, R. Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Andreia P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: CIMO, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE, Serviço de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Aníbal Cunha, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE, Serviço de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Aníbal Cunha, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentão
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE, Serviço de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Aníbal Cunha, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Seabra
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, R. Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal; REQUIMTE, Serviço de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Aníbal Cunha, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: bsilva@ufp.pt.
authors.forename: Branca M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Silva
keywords: Cydonia oblonga Miller; Organic acids; Quince leaves; Variability