The study of the chemical composition of the aerial part of golden dock (Rumex maritimus L.) by high-performance liquid chromatography

Introduction.. Golden dock (Rumex maritimus L.) is a poorly studied annual plant from the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae Juss.), used by the peoples of South-East Asia to treat a number of diseases. The methanol extract of golden dock has several beneficial properties, including antibacterial activity. At the same time, the chemical composition of the plant is studied fragmentarily.
Aim. To determine the qualitative composition of the aerial part of golden dock by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Materials and Methods. The dried aerial part of the plant at the stage of flowering and the beginning of fruiting was crushed and extracted with 95% ethanol. Ethanol was distilled off, and the extraction was treated sequentially with chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. We analyzed the obtained fractions and the aqueous residue of ethanol extraction after removal by reversed-phase HPLC. Compounds were identified using standard samples and literature data on the spectral characteristics of substances.
Results. Phytochemical analysis of the aerial part of golden dock by reversed-phase HPLC showed the presence of such substances as anthraquinones, flavonoids, stilbenes, phenolic acids. In the chloroform fraction, anthracene derivatives of emodin, chrysophanol, fiscion, isochrysophanol, the flavonoid vogeletin were identified; in the ethyl acetate fraction – phenolic acids: gallic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic, trans-stilbene derivative resveratrol, as well as the flavonoids rutin and quercetin; in the butanol fraction – caffeic acid and catechin; in the aqueous residue – epigallocatechin-3-gallate and epicatechin-3-gallate.
Conclusion. The presence of gallic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic, caffeic acids, resveratrol, catechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and epicatechin-3-gallate was first established in the aerial part of golden dock.

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