Identification of phenolic compounds in Myricaria bracteata leaves by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Myricaria bracteata Royle, Tamaricaceae, is a species with a wide geographic range that encompasses Eastern Europe, Western and Central Siberia, Central Asia, and the Himalayas. This plant is used in traditional folk medicine in Russia (Siberia) and in China typically as an analgesic and for the treatment of some infections and certain types of intoxication. The aim of this study was to identify phenolic constituents of the leaves of M. bracteata from two considerably distant populations. Chromatographic profiles of the leaves of M. bracteata were analyzed for the first time. Seventeen compounds, mainly methyl ethers of quercetin (isorhamnetin, rhamnazin), kaempferol (kaempferide, rhamnocitrin), and ellagic acid as well as quercetin, quercetin 3-glucoside, kaempferol, luteolin, chrysoeriol, citric acid, gallic acid, methyl gallate, ethyl gallate, and ferulic acid were identified in hydrolyzed aqueous ethanol extracts of the leaves. Flavonols and ellagic acid were the major compounds in both samples. Isorhamnetin was the main flavonoid constituent. Kaempferide and rhamnazin were also abundant in the flavonoid complex of the leaves of M. bracteata from the Altai. This study shows that M. bracteata leaves are a source of flavonoids with possible biological activities. (C) 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.