Composition and content of phenolic compounds in different fractions of extract from plants of Arnica foliosa Nutt

Among representatives of the genus Arnica L., the Arnica montana L. species is the most studied and widely used for medical purposes. However, due to the fact that the A. montana species is endangered in most European countries, the possibility to use Arnica foliosa Nutt. as an alternative source of phytochemicals is being investigated. A deeper study of the chemical composition of A. foliosa extract may give the opportunity to expand the spectrum of its possible application. The purpose of the research was to perform a detailed study of the composition and content of biologically active compounds the aerial part of A. foliosa by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Sixteen phenolic compounds were detected in ethylacetate and butanol fractions of A. foliosa. There were identified thirteen derivatives of caffeoylquinic acid and three flavonoids. In the chloroform and diethyl ester fractions, phenolic compounds were absent. It was established that the ethylacetate fraction contains big amounts of two phenolic compounds – 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids, and eight compounds were presented in trace or very small quantities. All sixteen phenolic compounds were found in the butanol fraction, but their total content was almost 2-fold less than in the ethylacetate fraction.