Phytochemical variation in Echinacea from roots and flowerheads of wild and cultivated populations

Quantitative phytochemical variation was determined from roots and inflorescences of native plant populations in the genus Echinacea. Specimens were collected in situ throughout the natural range of each putative taxon and transplanted to greenhouse cultivation. Ethanolic extracts from individual plants were separated by reversed-phase HPLC to quantify the alkamides, polyenes/ynes, and phenolics, and then grouped by age and taxonomically, according to a recent morphometric taxonomic revision of the genus. Canonical discriminant analysis revealed that cichoric acid, the diene alkamides 1-3 and 7, and ketoalkene 24 were the best taxonomic markers. Mean content for each of 26 phytochemicals revealed useful agronomic information, such as those varieties and organs with the highest accumulations, as well as the optimal age and growth conditions for each variety. The highest amounts of cichoric acid were measured from the older, wild inflorescences of E pallida var. sanguinea, whereas the highest quantities of the alkamides 1-3 and 7 were present in roots of wild and transplanted E purpurea. Baseline phytochemical data and chromatographic profiles for all types of wild Echinacea may be used for protection of wild stands, germplasm identification, and crop improvement.