Change of phenylpropanoic acid and flavonol contents at different growth stage of glasswort ( Salicornia herbacea L.).

Changes in phenylpropanoic acid [caffeic, dihydrocaffeic, ferulic, and dihydroferulic acids] and flavonol [quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin] contents at different growth stages of glasswort ( Salicornia herbacea L.) were investigated. Phenylpropanoic acids and flavonols in glasswort were liberated by acid and alkaline hydrolyses, respectively, and their contents before and after hydrolysis were determined by simultaneous octadecylsilane-HPLC. Phenylpropanoic acids and flavonols mostly existed as bound forms in glasswort. Among four phenylpropanoic acids, ferulic acid showed the highest content (ether form, 62.1-105.7 mg/100 g dry wt.; ester form, 241.0-456.6 mg/100 g dry wt.). Kaempferol was the dominant etherified flavonol (108.1-247.6 mg/100 g dry wt.). The total contents of phenylpropanoic acids and flavonols were relatively higher at the mature stage (August and September) when compared to those at the early growth stage. These results provide useful information for phenylpropanoic acid and flavonol content in glassworts grown June to September. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]