PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDY OF SELECTED Gentiana L. SPECIES

A comparative phytochemical analysis of Gentiana septemfida, G. asclepiadea, G. cruciata, and G. gelida was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-QQQ-MS). In total, 123 compounds were found including 68 iridoid glycosides, 37 flavones C-, O-, and C, O-glycosides, 2 phenolic O-glycosides, 3 hydroxycinnamates, 7 xanthones, 6 triterpene glycosides, and 3 carbohydrates. Subsequent isolation through column chromatography from the roots of G. septemfida were isolated the iridoids gentiopicroside and loganic acid, as well as ursane-type triterpenes, specifically (2β,3β)-3,25-epidioxy-2,24-dihydroxyurs-12,20(30)-dien-28-oic acid and (2β,3β)-3,25-epidioxy-2,24-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid. From the aerial parts of G. asclepiadea were isolated the flavonoids isoorientin and isovitexin, along with the xanthone glycoside mangiferin. Furthermore, the radical-scavenging properties, antimicrobial, antifungal and digestive enzymes inhibiting activities of extracts, fractions, and individual compounds from G. septemfida, G. asclepiadea, G. cruciata, and G. gelida were systematically evaluated. Pharmacopoeial monographs for the aerial parts and roots of G. septemfida were developed and officially approved. The findings highlighted in our investigation suggest that Azerbaijan gentians are good source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic potential.