Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Marker
Holoparasitic plants of the genus <i>Cuscuta</i> are generally considered prominent agricultural pests. In addition to their negative economic effect on agriculture and their impact on natural plant societies, they have also been long known in East Asian as medicinal plants with benefici...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Bilyana Chakarova Lyuben Zagorchev Kalina Pachedjieva Anita Tosheva Tzvetelina Zagorcheva Krasimir Rusanov Denitsa Teofanova |
| author_facet | Bilyana Chakarova Lyuben Zagorchev Kalina Pachedjieva Anita Tosheva Tzvetelina Zagorcheva Krasimir Rusanov Denitsa Teofanova |
| author_sort | Bilyana Chakarova |
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| description | Holoparasitic plants of the genus <i>Cuscuta</i> are generally considered prominent agricultural pests. In addition to their negative economic effect on agriculture and their impact on natural plant societies, they have also been long known in East Asian as medicinal plants with beneficial properties. This underlines the fact that <i>Cuscuta</i> spp. are particularly rich in specialized metabolites, flavonoids, alkaloids, and cumarines, among others. In addition to several well-characterized species, most of the species variety within the genus remains largely unstudied. In the present study we aimed to compare the flavonoid profiles of natural populations of two of the most abundant <i>Cuscuta</i> species in Bulgaria—the native <i>C. epithymum</i>, and the naturalized <i>C. campestris</i>. Based on HPLC-MS/MS analysis, a total of 13 polyphenolics compounds were annotated, with hyperoside and isoquercitrin being some of the most abundant. Some notable differences were found, like the complete absence of dicaffeoylquinic acid in <i>C. campestris</i>, and kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside and kaempferol 3-O-β-(6′′-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside in <i>C. epithymum</i>. The population of the two species clustered separately from each other, with some variations, but with no clear pattern of dependence on the locality or host species. Based on the results it can be concluded that flavonoids may be used as chemotaxonomical markers within the genus, showing that even in different climatic conditions and different host ranges, the two studied species clearly differed from each other. Also, their rich content emphasizes the potential of these parasites as a source of bioactive compounds. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-86166b9053d14ebc980d382e62dca0e72025-08-20T03:13:48ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-04-01148122010.3390/plants14081220Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical MarkerBilyana Chakarova0Lyuben Zagorchev1Kalina Pachedjieva2Anita Tosheva3Tzvetelina Zagorcheva4Krasimir Rusanov5Denitsa Teofanova6Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BulgariaAgroBioInstitute, Agricultural Academy, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BulgariaAgroBioInstitute, Agricultural Academy, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BulgariaFaculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BulgariaHoloparasitic plants of the genus <i>Cuscuta</i> are generally considered prominent agricultural pests. In addition to their negative economic effect on agriculture and their impact on natural plant societies, they have also been long known in East Asian as medicinal plants with beneficial properties. This underlines the fact that <i>Cuscuta</i> spp. are particularly rich in specialized metabolites, flavonoids, alkaloids, and cumarines, among others. In addition to several well-characterized species, most of the species variety within the genus remains largely unstudied. In the present study we aimed to compare the flavonoid profiles of natural populations of two of the most abundant <i>Cuscuta</i> species in Bulgaria—the native <i>C. epithymum</i>, and the naturalized <i>C. campestris</i>. Based on HPLC-MS/MS analysis, a total of 13 polyphenolics compounds were annotated, with hyperoside and isoquercitrin being some of the most abundant. Some notable differences were found, like the complete absence of dicaffeoylquinic acid in <i>C. campestris</i>, and kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside and kaempferol 3-O-β-(6′′-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside in <i>C. epithymum</i>. The population of the two species clustered separately from each other, with some variations, but with no clear pattern of dependence on the locality or host species. Based on the results it can be concluded that flavonoids may be used as chemotaxonomical markers within the genus, showing that even in different climatic conditions and different host ranges, the two studied species clearly differed from each other. Also, their rich content emphasizes the potential of these parasites as a source of bioactive compounds.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1220bioactive compoundschemotaxonomical markersdoddersflavonoidsparasitic plantspolyphenolics |
| spellingShingle | Bilyana Chakarova Lyuben Zagorchev Kalina Pachedjieva Anita Tosheva Tzvetelina Zagorcheva Krasimir Rusanov Denitsa Teofanova Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Marker Plants bioactive compounds chemotaxonomical markers dodders flavonoids parasitic plants polyphenolics |
| title | Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Marker |
| title_full | Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Marker |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Marker |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Marker |
| title_short | Analysis of Variations in the Flavonoid Profiles of <i>Cuscuta campestris</i> and <i>Cuscuta epithymum</i> in Bulgaria as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Marker |
| title_sort | analysis of variations in the flavonoid profiles of i cuscuta campestris i and i cuscuta epithymum i in bulgaria as a potential chemotaxonomical marker |
| topic | bioactive compounds chemotaxonomical markers dodders flavonoids parasitic plants polyphenolics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1220 |
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