HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis of phenolic components of Scutellaria araxensis, S. bornmuelleri and S. orientalis

Scutellaria araxensis, S. bornmuelleri and S. orientalis are traditional herbs widely used by native Iranians for the treatment various ailments. In the current study, we used HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn to investigate the presence of phenolic compounds of root and shoot methanolic extracts. The flavonoid composition were identified based on mass of pseudomolecular [M - H](-) ions and fragmentation spectra and comparisons with literature data. A total of 26, 25, 17, 23, 19 and 26 flavonoids were identified from roots and shoots of S. araxensis, S. bornmuelleri and S. orientalis, respectively. The obtained phenolic profiles revealed the presence of the major flavonoid components of Scutellaria genus including baicalein, wogonin, scutellarein and their glycosides, as well as chrysin, tricin, skullcapflavon II, pinocembrin and phenylethanoid glycosides such as acteoside and verbascoside. This study, in addition to reveal the potency of chromatographic profiling for identification of Scutellaria flavonoids, introduces this species as a potential source of bioactive metabolites.

Automated summary

In this study, the phenolic compounds of three traditional Iranian herbs were analyzed using HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn. The major flavonoids of the Scutellaria genus and other flavonoid compounds and phenylethanoid glycosides were identified. These herbs were found to be a potential source of bioactive metabolites.