Quantitative determination of Silymarin in Silybum marianum, Cynara scolymus and Gundelia toumefortii grown in Syria. (A comparative study)

Abstract

This study was to determine the total Silymarin concentrations in Silybum marianum(seeds),  Cynara  scolymus (leaves, scales, bud base), and Gundelia toumefortii (leaves, stems, fruits) collected  from four geographically different locations in Syria, (Damascus, Homs, Tartus and Lattakia), during plants maturation period. Silymarin concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using reversed phase C₁₈ column.

Results showed that, silymarin concentrations varied with the geographical location and plant tissue. Total silymarin concentrations in Silybum marianum seeds ranged between 5.4  and 29.1 mg/g dry weight. The highest concentrations of silymarin were in the seeds collected from Damascus (29.1 mg/g dry weight), and the lesser concentrations were in the seeds collected from Homs location (5.4mg/g). The seeds collected from Tartus and Lattakia locations contained (12.7 mg/g) and (13.9 mg/g), respectively. In Cynar  scolymus and Gundelia toumefortii the highest total silymarin concentration was found in the leaves of Gundelia toumefortii (8.2 mg/g), and in the bud base   of Cynara  scolymus  (25.6 mg /g). There were significant differences in silymarin concentrations in seeds among various sampling locations; In addition, Significant differences in silymarin concentrations were also found among various parts of Cynara  scolymus  as determined by LSD test at P<0.05.