Effect of Agronomic And Environmental Conditions on Chemical Composition of Tree-species Buds Used For Herbal Preparations

Until now, most studies have focused on the use of plant parts for the extraction of phytochemicals and for the preparation of phytotherapic products. In particular, bud-preparations deriving from embryonic fresh plant tissues (buds, sprouts) and their bioactive compounds, extracted through the process of cold maceration quoted in the French Pharmacopoeia, show some interesting differences when compared with those of mature organs. The positive effects of bud-preparations on the human organism are often emphasized, but the variation of the chemical composition of the plant material in relation to the quality of the product has never been assessed. Present research is to provide an analytical study of bud-preparations, in order to identify the main active compounds with their relative concentrations, in relation to some quality parameters for which Castanea sativa Mill., Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. e Castanea sativa x crenata, Corylus avellana L., Tilia x vulgaris Hayne, Juglans regia L., Ribes nigrum L. and Rubus ulmifolius L. have been analysed. Different chromatographic methods were used to determine concentrations of phytochemical compounds in tree-species buds, quantifying any statistically significant differences in their content in relation to different species and varieties in specific sampling sites and defining the phenological stage in which the concentrations of identified molecules are the highest. For the future, it will also be useful to identify the best chemical, agronomic and environmental parameters in order to obtain a final product which is safe and of high quality with high and stable concentrations of bioactive compounds.