Comparison of phenolic compounds in different organs of three populations of Salvia abrotanoides (Kar.) Sytsma in Khorasan Razavi province

Salvia abrotanoides (Kar.) Sytsma is a shrubby and perennial species of Lamiaceae family and its numerous biological and medicinal properties are associated with the presence of several types of phenolic compounds in plant organs. The amount and type of plant secondary metabolites are affected by environmental stresses and biochemical responses of plants to the stressful conditions. In the present study, the amount of phenolic compounds in leaves, flowers and roots of three populations of Salvia abrotanoides, scattered in different regions (Haroonyeh, Hezar Masjed and Joghri) of Khorasan Razavi province, was measured, and Pearson coefficient of correlation was determined between rainfall )as an environmental factor) and amount of phenolic metabolites. After sampling at the flowering stage, methanolic extracts of different plant organs were prepared by sonication method, and the total contents of phenols, flavonoids and phenolic acids were measured by spectrophotometry. Results showed that the content of phenolic compounds was significantly (P≤۰.۰۵) affected by the population and organ type. The greatest amounts of three groups of phenolic compounds were obtained from the flowers. The highest (۳۰۴۱ mg/۱۰۰g DW) and the lowest (۳۰۷ mg/۱۰۰g DW) contents of total phenols and the maximum (۱۵۵۰ mg/۱۰۰g DW) and minimum (۲۰۹ mg/۱۰۰g DW) values of total phenolic acids were observed in the flower of Haroonyeh and the root of Joghri populations, respectively. Flowers of Haroonyeh population possessed the highest level of total flavonoids with the value of ۳۵۴ mg/۱۰۰g DW, while the roots of this population contained the least amount (۱۱۲ mg/۱۰۰g DW) of flavonoids. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation (-۰.۷۴۳