Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts from leaves and flowers of chilcuague ( Heliopsis longipes , Asteraceae)

Background: Heliopsis longipes root is the widely used organ from the plant due to its culinary and medicinal importance. Nevertheless, during its collection the foliage is discarded. Therefore, it is required to perform studies about the phytochemical content with biological activity present in the different plant organs of the foliage, for a better exploitation of the plant. Hypothesis: The concentration of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity varies according to the type of plant organ and the geographic location of the plant collection. Study species: Heliopsis longipes Site and years of study: The H. longipes plants were collected in three locations (Conca, San Juan Buenaventura and Beltran) from Sierra Gorda of Mexico, between 2017 and 2018. Methods: In this study, they were analyzed the methanolic extracts from H. longipes leaves and flowers, in order to determine the content of the phenolic compounds and scavenging of radicals activity (DPPH• and ABTS•+). Further characterization of the extracts was carried out by chromatography (UPLC). Results: The total content of polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins varied in depending on the type of plant organ and the origin site of H. longipes , being the leaves of Beltran those that represent the best source of phenolic compounds with scavenging activity of the radicals DPPH• and ABTS•+. In the extracts, phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified. Conclusions: The geographical climatic conditions influence the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts from leaves and flowers of H. longipes .