Phytochemical study of Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata in north of Iran

Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata are abundant species of Plantago in north of Iran which are recognized as valuable medicinal plants with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Therefore, in this study, eight populations of these two species were collected from different regions of the north of Iran and investigated in terms of phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, saponins, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, soluble sugars, total proteins. The results showed that P. lanceolata had more metabolites on average than P. major. The mean differences for phenols, anthocyanins, saponins, carotenoids and soluble sugars were statistically significant at the level of 0.05; so that the highest mean differences were for soluble sugars, saponins and phenols with 78.84±7.60, 3.83±0.68 and 3.55±0.85 mg/g dry weight, respectively. In addition, the results showed that both species of Lafur region had more phenols, saponins and soluble sugars compared to their other populations. Analysis of the essential oil of Masuleh populations showed that the metabolites in the essential oils of these two species were also different; the pulegon and palmitic acid were the main components of P. major whereas the D-carvone and adipic acid, dioctyl ester were the main components of P. lanceolata. It seems that phytochemical studies could probably be used in the taxonomy of these two species and other species of Plantago. These findings will help to select species and populations with higher metabolic content followed by optimal use in the food, pharmaceutical and health industries.