Characterization of potentially health-promoting constituents in sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) cultivated in the Conero Natural Park (Marche region, Central Italy)

Abstract

Context

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L. [Apiaceae]) is an aromatic herb rich in bioactive molecules, such as polyphenols, with potential positive effects on human health.

Objective

This study aimed at the characterization of sea fennel secondary metabolites, focusing on the phenolic fraction.

Materials and methods

Samples of whole sprouts, sole leaves and sole stems were subjected to accelerated solvent extraction with methanol, and the resulting extracts were analyzed by high‑performance thin‑layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-HRMS).

Results

HPTLC and HPLC analyses of sea fennel extracts showed similar chromatographic profiles among the tested samples, and the prevalence of chlorogenic acid within the phenolic fraction was verified. Ten hydroxycinnamic acids, including neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C, 11 flavonoid glycosides, e.g., rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, two triterpene saponins and two hydroxylated fatty acids, were detected and annotated via liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Discussion and conclusions

The use of accelerated solvent extraction and LC-DAD-HRMS for the characterization of sea fennel secondary metabolites allowed the annotation of seven compounds newly detected in sea fennel, including triterpene saponins and hydroxylated fatty acids.

Keywords:

• Accelerated solvent extraction
• chlorogenic acid
• triterpene saponins
• hydroxylated fatty acids
• LC/MS

Acknowledgments

We thank NAWI Graz for supporting Central Lab Environmental, Plant & Microbial Metabolomics and Rinci S.r.l for the providing of sea fennel crop.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Marche Region under Grant PSR 2014-2020 Programme 'Misura 16.1 – Sostegno per la costituzione e la gestione dei gruppi operativi del PEI in materia di produttività e sostenibilità dell’agricoltura Azione 2 – Fase di gestione del G.O. e realizzazione del Piano di Attività’. Project: ‘New vegetable organic preserves from autochthonous sea fennel organic crop (Crithmum maritimum L.)’ (acronym: BIO-VEG-CONSERVE, http://www.biovegconserve.it/, ID 28913), and under Grant POR Marche FSE 2014/2020 Progetto 'Dottorato Innovativo’ – 'Borse di studio per Dottorato di ricerca per l’innovazione del sistema regionale’ – Edizione Anno Accademico 2018/2019. Project: ‘Sviluppo di nuove conserve, salse e spezie biologiche funzionali a base di finocchio marino (Crithmum maritimum L.) e altri prodotti orticoli’.