Flavonoid variation in Arnica subgenus Arctica

Stephen R. Downie, Keith E. Denford

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Twelve flavonoids (including seven flavonol and three flavone glycosides, one flavone aglycone, and one unknown) were isolated from the leaves of 198 populations of the seven species comprising Arnica subgenus Arctica. Flavonoid profiles are relatively simple, with two to six compounds found per population; however, considerable flavonoid variation was apparent in populations of A. angustifolia, A. frigida and A. lonchophylla. In subgenus Arctica, flavonoid diversity appears to have accompanied high morphological variability. Leaf flavonoid chemistry supports the hypotheses that A. fulgens and A. sororia are very closely related, and A. rydbergii probably represents the most advanced species within the subgenus. Only A. rydbergii is clearly delimitable on the basis of its fiavonoid chemistry. The absence of any highly derived or methylated flavonoid suggest the subgenus Arctica probably represents the most ancestral subgenus in Arnica.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)133-137
Number of pages5
JournalBiochemical Systematics and Ecology
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 14 1988
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Arnica
  • Asteraceae
  • flavonoids
  • population variation
  • subgenus Arctica

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Biochemistry

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