Agro-morphological and phytochemical diversity and silica content variability among Iranian populations of common horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.)

Common horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.), is widely used in the bone and nail strengthen herbal products due to the presence of minerals, especially silica.

Agro-morphological and phytochemical diversity, and the silica content of the E. arvense populations (EAPs) collected from Iran along with two commercial samples from Russia and Switzerland were investigated.

Morphological traits were measured using ruler, digital caliper, naked eye, and digital balance. Phytochemical characteristics were assessed by spectrophotometer and HPLC-PDA analyses. Silica content was measured by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis.

The maximum height was observed in Sarab (EAP4), while the highest width and stem dry weight was found in Marzanabad (EAP11). The highest TPC and TFC were measured in the Russian and EAP11 samples, respectively. Isoquercitrin content was varied from 0.03 (Russian) to 3.05 mg/g DW (EAP11) based on HPLC analysis while silica content was different among samples from 30 to 87.5 mg/g DW in EAP9 and EAP1, respectively.

In this study, EAP11 and EAP4 were superior in terms of important morphological traits. Marzanabad (EAP11) was a superior population in phytochemical characteristics which can be strongly recommended for further exploitation in conservation, domestication, and mass production programs. In the case of silica content, the EAP1 was characterized as the superior population which can be interesting for further exploitation in the production of bone, hair, and nail strengthening herbal products.