TOCOCHROMANOLS, PLASTOQUINONE AND POLYPRENOLS IN SELECTED PLANT SPECIES FROM CHILEAN PATAGONIA

A collection of 14 species of Patagonian plants was evaluated for tocopherol content mid composition, plastochromanol, plastoquinone content and polyprenol composition. Total tocopherols varied from 35.77 mu g/g in Mutisia decurrens to 798 mu g/g in Philesia magellanica. In most cases tocopherol composition was dominated by alpha-tocopherol, which accounted for more than 90% of total tocopherols. Of all the investigated species only Misodendrum punctulatum showed higher content of gamma- than alpha-tocopherol, which is unusual for mature leaves. Plastochromanol, a homologue of gamma-tocotrienol, was found in leaves of 10 of the 14 examined species, and was highest in Araucaria araucana leaves (132 mu g/g). Total content of PQ-9 (oxidized and reduced) was highest in Fuchsia magellanica (774.3 mu g/g), Philesia magellanica (791 mu g/g), Misodendrum linearifolium (569 mu g/g) and Amomyrtus luma (518.5 mu g/g). Analysis of polyprenol content in the leaves of investigated plant species revealed detectable amounts (> 10 mu g/g d.w.) of polyprenyl esters in six of them. Accumulation of free polyprenols was detected only in Chusquea quila leaves. Selected organs of Philesia magellanica and Fuchsia magellanica were further quantitatively analyzed for tocochromanol and polyprenol content. With the methods applied, different patterns of the analyzed compounds were identified in all the samples studied. Our results reveal some trends that may be of taxonomic interest. Some of these species can serve as a rich source of such bioactive compounds as tocochromanols or polyprenols.