Author(s): Elizabeth Valdes , Oliver Rosales

Presentation: poster

Many dietary and medicinal plant species produce flavonoids, a type of polyphenolic compound. Some flavonoids are antioxidants in vitro and in vivo, and display biological activities such as inhibition of cultured tumor cell growth. Sagebrush is known to produce large and varied amounts of flavonoids, which may possess these important properties. Sagebrush leaf and inflorescence samples were collected along Highway 95 from Jordan Valley, OR to Council, ID. Sagebrush from several different areas was collected to insure a good representation. The species collected were: Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi, Artemisia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula, Artemisia rigida, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata. Samples were processed by lyophilization, then extraction of polyphenols with 90% methanol. Types and quantities of polyphenolics were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). A. cana exhibited the greatest number of peaks. A. arbuscula and A. cana expressed more peaks in pool B than A. rigida and A. tridentata. Across all samples, the most prevalent pool was that thought to be glycosylated flavonoids. Samples also expressed significant peaks in the flavonoid aglycone region. Anthraquinones, which are of medicinal interest, appeared in most samples. Polyphenolics produced in sagebrush have potential medicinal applications which will be the topic of further research.

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