Metabolic Profiles, Genetic Diversity, and Genome Size of Bulgarian Population of <i>Alkanna tinctoria</i>
Milena Nikolova,
Ina Aneva,
Petar Zhelev,
Ivanka Semerdjieva,
Valtcho D. Zheljazkov,
Vladimir Vladimirov,
Stoyan Stoyanov,
Strahil Berkov,
Elina Yankova-Tsvetkova
Affiliations
Milena Nikolova
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Ina Aneva
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Petar Zhelev
Department of Dendrology, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria
Ivanka Semerdjieva
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Valtcho D. Zheljazkov
Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, 3050 SW Campus Way, 109 Crop Science, Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Vladimir Vladimirov
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Stoyan Stoyanov
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Strahil Berkov
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Elina Yankova-Tsvetkova
Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch Boraginaceae is a medicinal plant whose root is used for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. A. tinctoria roots have been subject to numerous studies. However, the aerial parts have been explored less. The objective of the present study was to compare the chemical profile of aerial parts and roots as well as the total alkannin content in roots of 11 populations of the species from different floristic regions of Bulgaria. Methanolic extracts from 22 samples were analyzed by GC/MS. Phenolic, fatty, and organic acids, sterols, polyols, fatty alcohols, and sugars were identified. Ononitol (4-O-methyl-myo-inositol) was found as the main compound in the aerial parts. The total alkannin content in the roots was evaluated by the spectrophotometric method and compared with that of the commercial product. Populations with high alkannin content and rich in other bioactive compounds were identified. A relatively low genetic diversity in the studied populations was observed. The present study is the first comprehensive study on metabolite profiles and genetic diversity of the Bulgarian populations of A. tinctoria. The occurrence of ononitol in the aerial parts of the species is reported for the first time, as well as the phenolic acid profiles of the species in both aerial parts and roots. The results showed that aerial parts of the plant are also promising for use as a source of valuable biologically active substances.
