Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Galinsoga parviflora and Galinsoga ciliata. Investigations of caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids by HPTLC and HPLC-DAD-MS methods

Galinsoga ciliata Raf. Blake like Galinsoga parviflora Cav., comes from the Andes region. The chemical composition, activity and use are similar for both species. Galinsoga species are used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory agents and accelerators for wound healing. Extracts are applied topically onto the skin to treat dermatological diseases, eczemas, lichens and hard-healing-wounds, and also to treat snakebites. Orally they used to cure flu and colds.In the studies using HPTLC method, different stationary phases, including unmodified silica gel, silica gels modified with CN, NH₂, DIOL and RP18 groups were tried. The best separation of the tested compounds was achieved on silica gel plates, when as mobile phases mixtures – ethyl acetate–acetic acid–formic acid–water (100:11:11:26, v/v/v/v), ethyl acetate–methanol–formic acid–water (50:3:4:6, v/v/v/v) and ethyl acetate–methyl ethyl ketone–formic acid–water (30:9:3:3, v/v/v/v) – were used. Using reference substances, in the examined extracts the presence of flavonoids: patulitrin, quercimeritrin, quercitagetrin, and phenolic acids – caffeic and chlorogenic acids was found.HPLC analyses of extracts were carried out on a reversed-phase Zorbax SB column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.9 μm). The mobile phase (A) was water/acetonitrile/formic acid (95:5:0.1, v/v/v) and the mobile phase (B) was acetonitrile/formic acid (100:0.1, v/v). A linear gradient system was used: 0–30 min, 1–30% B. Application of HPLC-DAD-MS method confirmed the results obtained by HPTLC method. Moreover, in the tested extracts the presence of caffeoylglucaric acids as dominating compounds was detected.