Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds
Sweet clover, particularly white sweet clover (<i>Melilotus albus</i>), is an underexplored plant that has gained attention in recent years. This study compared the bioactive compounds content in the flowers, leaves, and stems of <i>Melilotus albus</i> Medic. to the well-know...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Patrycja Sowa-Borowiec Maria Czernicka Wacław Jarecki Małgorzata Dżugan |
| author_facet | Patrycja Sowa-Borowiec Maria Czernicka Wacław Jarecki Małgorzata Dżugan |
| author_sort | Patrycja Sowa-Borowiec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sweet clover, particularly white sweet clover (<i>Melilotus albus</i>), is an underexplored plant that has gained attention in recent years. This study compared the bioactive compounds content in the flowers, leaves, and stems of <i>Melilotus albus</i> Medic. to the well-known health-promoting <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> (L.) Lam. Both fresh and dried plant materials were analysed, with chromatographic assessments preceded by the optimisation of the extraction method (using 50% aqueous ethanol–water and the plant sample ground in a mortar, followed by 30 min of ultrasound-assisted extraction). Flower and leaf extracts were also evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity using FRAP and DPPH<b>·</b> assays. Both plant species were rich in phenolic compounds, including coumarins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. HPLC-PDA analysis revealed similar profiles for both species, with quantitative differences in individual compound fractions. The highest coumarin content was found in the fresh flowers, followed by the leaves and stems. No significant species-specific differences in the coumarin content were observed. However, the flowers of <i>M. albus</i> were a richer source of flavonoids, with the highest hyperoside content. The flavonoid profile in the leaf extracts was similar to that of the flowers, but the content was about four times lower in the leaves and even lower than in the stems. Interestingly, the leaf extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the flower extracts. The presented findings suggest that white sweet clover is an equally valuable source of health-promoting compounds as yellow sweet clover. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-edcc33ec1ccf4925a142d4ff0c4b1f51 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-edcc33ec1ccf4925a142d4ff0c4b1f512025-08-20T02:12:30ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-01-0130352610.3390/molecules30030526Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active CompoundsPatrycja Sowa-Borowiec0Maria Czernicka1Wacław Jarecki2Małgorzata Dżugan3Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Cracow, PolandDepartment of Bioenergetics, Food Analysis and Microbiology, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Crop Production, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4, 35-601 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, University of Rzeszow, Ćwiklińskiej 1a, 35-601 Rzeszow, PolandSweet clover, particularly white sweet clover (<i>Melilotus albus</i>), is an underexplored plant that has gained attention in recent years. This study compared the bioactive compounds content in the flowers, leaves, and stems of <i>Melilotus albus</i> Medic. to the well-known health-promoting <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> (L.) Lam. Both fresh and dried plant materials were analysed, with chromatographic assessments preceded by the optimisation of the extraction method (using 50% aqueous ethanol–water and the plant sample ground in a mortar, followed by 30 min of ultrasound-assisted extraction). Flower and leaf extracts were also evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity using FRAP and DPPH<b>·</b> assays. Both plant species were rich in phenolic compounds, including coumarins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. HPLC-PDA analysis revealed similar profiles for both species, with quantitative differences in individual compound fractions. The highest coumarin content was found in the fresh flowers, followed by the leaves and stems. No significant species-specific differences in the coumarin content were observed. However, the flowers of <i>M. albus</i> were a richer source of flavonoids, with the highest hyperoside content. The flavonoid profile in the leaf extracts was similar to that of the flowers, but the content was about four times lower in the leaves and even lower than in the stems. Interestingly, the leaf extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the flower extracts. The presented findings suggest that white sweet clover is an equally valuable source of health-promoting compounds as yellow sweet clover.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/526biologically active compoundsantioxidant activity<i>Melilotus</i> spp.phenolic compounds<i>Melilotus albus</i><i>Melilotus officinalis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Patrycja Sowa-Borowiec Maria Czernicka Wacław Jarecki Małgorzata Dżugan Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds Molecules biologically active compounds antioxidant activity <i>Melilotus</i> spp. phenolic compounds <i>Melilotus albus</i> <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> |
| title | Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds |
| title_full | Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds |
| title_fullStr | Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds |
| title_short | Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus</i> spp.) as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds |
| title_sort | sweet clover i melilotus i spp as a source of biologically active compounds |
| topic | biologically active compounds antioxidant activity <i>Melilotus</i> spp. phenolic compounds <i>Melilotus albus</i> <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/526 |
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