EXTRACTION AND IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES OF POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS AND CARBOHYDRATES IN PHILLYREA (PHILLYREA-ANGUSTIFOLIA L) LEAVES

Liquid-liquid (LLE) and liquid-solid extraction (LSE) procedures were developed to identify polyphenols in phillyrea (Phillyrea angustifolia L.) leaves. The liquid-solid extraction, carried out by using two ser ial Bond-Elut(R) CH and Bond-Elut(R) SAX cartridges allowed the collec tion of both polyphenols and soluble carbohydrates during a single ext raction of leaf. This method seems to be suitable for both phytochemic al and physiological study of the species, allowing the identification of two classes of organic compounds which have a central role in the metabolism of phillyrea plants. A method of isolation and concentratio n of polyphenols for further molecular characterization, using centrif uge chromatography, was also developed. Molecular characterization, ca rried out by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and mass spectrometry, demonstra ted the presence of compounds with interesting biological activity, i. e. flavonoids and oleuropein derivatives. The soluble carbohydrate com position of phillyrea leaves did not substantially differ from that of Olea europaea L. leaves, except for a higher mannitol/glucose ratio. This carbohydrate distribution may be linked to the evolution pattern of this species which usually grows in severely stressed environments.