Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria L.) is traditionally used to treat diarrhea and urinary infections. Herbal raw material characterized by astringent and antibacterial properties because of tannins [1]. Medicinal plant accumulates flavonol glycosides. Due to the flavonoids meadowsweet herbal extracts presents an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects [2].
Research object is naturally growing meadowsweet herb collected in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative composition dynamics of flavonoids and tannins during the vegetation period of this plant and assay the antimicrobial effects of herbal extracts against nine microbial cultures.
The highest total flavonoids content of F. ulmaria herb was determined during a massive flowering period (3.49 %). The total flavonoid content in herbal raw material significantly depends on the plant vegetation stage, but statistically significant changes take place from the beginning of flowering until the end of flowering. The maximum total tannin content was determined during meadowsweet massive flowering stage (16.80%). Statistically significant changes of tannin content was evaluated at the beginning of flowering, including massive flowering, to the end of flowering, (p <0.05). This tendency may be due to the fact that tannins are needed in order to protect themselves from the medicinal plants threatening infections, insect or animal damage. [3]. Aqueous and ethanolic meadowsweet extracts were tested for their antibacterial activity respectively. It was found that ethanolic extracts possess a slightly higher antimicrobial effect, especially against E. faecalis and B. subtilis. It was noted that C. albicans was characterized by the highest resistance. The growth was inhibited only by the highest concentration of aqueous extracts (10mg/ml).
References: 1. Braun L. Cohen M. Herbs & Natural Supplements. Elsevier Australia; 2010: 277-278. 2 . Nitta Y. et al., Food Chemistry 2013; 138: 1551–1556. 3. Khanbabaee K. et al., Nat. Prod. Rep., 2001; 18: 641–649.
Keywords: meadowsweet, tannins, flavonoids, antimicrobial