Phenolic acids of native species of the Rosa L. genus in Poland

Abstract

Phenolic acids were identified in the leaves of 23 species of native roses and their quantitative proportions were determined by the method of two-dimensional paper chromatography. The common occurrence of ellagic and gallic acid in roses was confirmed and so was the regular presence of protocatechuic, caffeic, gentisic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxyphenylacetic, p-cumaric, syringic, vanillic, ferulic and salicylic acids. A small amount of isoferulic acid was noted only in Rosa gizellae Borb. and R. eglanteria L. var. comosa (Ripart) Du Mortier. Homoprotocatechuic acid was revealed only in the species of the Rosa rubiginosa and Rosa tomentosa groups from the Caninae section. The taxonomically limited occurrence of some phenolic acids points to the systematic differentiating value of the latter within one genus.