Biologically active compounds of species, hybrids, and cultivars of peony introduced in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Purpose. To reveal the raw material potential of the representatives of the genus Paeonia L. introduced in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NBG) in terms of the content of biologically active compounds.

Methods. Introduced plants of the genus Paeonia: P. lactiflora Pall., P. officinalis L. and its hybrid forms: P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’, F₁ (P. officinalis ‘Rub­ra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina Mill.), cultivar NBG ‘Kvazimodo’ (P. lactiflora ‘M-lle Jeanne Riviere’ ´ F₁ [P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina)], P. anomala L. were the object of the research. The content of polyphenolic compounds, homopolysaccharides, ascorbic acid and other substances was determined by spectrophotometry, titrimetry and colorimetry. The analysis of biologically active compounds was carried out by the method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results. Species and varietal differences in the amount of polyphenols in plants of various species and forms were determined. It was found that the roots of the studied F₁ plants (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina), cultivar NBG ‘Kvazimodo’, P. lactiflora contain a much higher amount of polysaccharides compared to the roots of P. anomala. In peony plants, the average share of vitamin C is 37.65% and varies among representatives of the genus in the range from 22.10 ± 2.18 [F₁ (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina)] to 47.60 ± 3.69 (P. anomala) and 49.30 ± 5.50% (P. lactiflora). The maximum content of carotenoids was found in the roots of P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ (2.10 ± 0.21 mg%) and F₁ (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina) (2.20 ± 0.13 mg%). A significant amount of free gallic acid was observed in the roots of P. anomala, and halotannins in P. lactiflora.

Conclusions. The results of phytochemical studies of plants of species, hybrids and cultivars of the genus Paeonia introduced in the  M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine showed that they accumulate a significant level of basic biologically active compounds: flavonoids, tannins, mono- and polysaccharides, pigments roots of P. lactiflora and P. officinalis are promising in terms of the complex of active ingredients, since they contain them in greater quantities than those of P. anomala. Hybrid forms of P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’, F₁ (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina), cultivar ‘Kvazimodo’, created on the basis of these species, are not inferior to the parent species in terms of the content of phenolic compounds, sugars, pigments and ascorbic acid. In the roots, the share of peoniflorin is for P. lactiflora (1.95%),  anomala (1.09%), P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ (0.95%), P. officinalis (0.78%). The studied species, hybrids and cultivars are offered for cultivation in the purpose of harvesting medicinal raw materials as a source of biologically active compounds with the possibility of supplementing or even repla­cing the official species of anomalous peony (P. anomala).