UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn profiling variability of the phenolic constituents of Artemisia campestris L. populations growing in Algeria

Due to its health-promoting properties, Artemisia campestris L. is an important crop widely used in the south Mediterranean basin as a food spice, and also in folk medicine. In this study, crude methanolic fraction was fractionated using two different solvents (ethyl-acetate AC and dichloromethane DCM). 19 individuals representing two different subspecies of A. campestris were investigated. A total of 86 compounds were identified. Several major and minor compounds were tentatively identified for the first time for this plant subspecies. The AC and DCM fractions exhibited different profiles compositions. Furthermore, both fractions presented a large variability of the percentage of their components. The AC fraction was rich in hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids aglycones. Major compounds for this fraction were 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic (7.0-50.03%), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid derivative (0.11-11.15%) and luteolin (0-14.2%). Alternatively, for DCM fraction, it was mainly made up by flavonols and flavones classes'. The major identified components were 3-O-methylquercetin (8.7-19.1%), casticin III (0.0-9.3%), cirsiliol (3.89-14.0), eupatorin-5-methylether (3.4-11.5%), eupatorin (4.04-12.00%), eupafolin (1.4-9.55%) and 5,8,40-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (0.0-15.41%). Cluster analysis showed the presence two mains clusters and were depending on the solvent used. The chemical variation among the populations should lead to the selection of plants with high potential in order to use them in health care and food industry.