BIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN SHOOTS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GENUS CELASTRUS IN THE CONDITIONS OF MOSCOW REGION

The genus Celastrus, or bittersweet, including around 35 species, growing in Asia, Australia, Madagascar and America. Several Celastrus species are used mostly as ornamental plants in Russia and abroad. Their ornamental properties include bright leaf coloration in autumn and showy fruits and seeds with orange arils. In addition to ornamental value, bittersweets are known to possess medicinal properties, however, this aspect is currently under-investigated. Some chemical compounds contained in various parts of bittersweets, have shown biological activity. Shoots of representatives of 6 bittersweet taxa, introduced in conditions of Moscow region (C. orbiculatus, C. rugosus, C. strigillosus, C. flagellaris, C. scandens and C. orbiculatus var. punctatus), served as objects in the present study. Samples of frozen leaves and stems kept in a freezer at -10 °C were analyzed by methods of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) and mass-detection (MS). Spectral data (UV- and MS-spectra) of dominating substances in methanol extracts were obtained and, using literature record on the chemical composition of Celastrus plants, the obtained data were analyzed and interpreted. Our investigation demonstrated that taxa of the genus Celastrus are producers of chemical constituents with high antioxidant power, such as afzelechin and its dimer and trimer (C. orbiculatus, С. flagellaris, С. strigillosus, С. orbiculatus var. puncatus), kaempferol and its glycosides (all studied taxa), quercetin and its glycosides (C. rugosus, С. orbiculatus, С. scandens).