Intraspecific variation in quality control parameters, polyphenol profile, and antioxidant activity in wild populations of Lippia multiflora from Ghana

Abstract

This study evaluates the variation of quality, polyphenol profile and antioxidant activity in wild varieties of Lippia multiflora from different regions of Ghana and reviews the pharmacological properties of this species. Our results showed that while the essential oil composition is highly variable, the polyphenols profile remain similar among the discrete populations with verbascoside being the main component followed by nuomiside. Our study also demonstrated that the antioxidant activity of one gram of Lippia multiflora leaves is equivalent to 2.7-12.4 g of Trolox (a Vitamin E analogue). Since the amount of total phenols, antioxidant activities and phenylpropanoid glycosides in some Lippia populations were found to be comparatively low, and these are the compounds largely responsible for many of the plants medicinal attributes, those populations with higher contents of bioactive constituents and those processing techniques that can maximize their content should be used in the commercialization of this species to improve its nutraceutical properties. Our study also showed the importance of the evaluation of bioactive components from wild varieties of Lippia multiflora, and that such natural variation can be used as a source of new components and bioactivities to develop new or improved products by selection and/or breeding to improve the genetic materials that are commercialized. Because Lippia multiflora is not well know in the international markets, this plant species may serve as a unique 'African bush tea' in the western marketplace, and as a possible source of aroma chemicals. © 2006 American Chemical Society.