Neli‐Kinga OLAH1,2, Viviane Beatrice BOTA4,6, Ramona Flavia BURTESCU2, Elisabeta CHIȘE1, Timea BAB2,3, Daniela HANGANU3, Simona MIREL3, Maria JOLJI5, Melinda HÉJJA5, Endre MÁTHÉ4,5, Violeta TURCUȘ4,6*
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Farmacy, ”Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, Liviu Rebreanu no. 86, 310414, Arad, Romania
2 SC PlantExtrakt SRL, Rădaia, Cluj, 407059, Romania
3 Department of Pharmacognosy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Victor Babeș no. 8, 400010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4 Department of Biology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, ”Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, Liviu Rebreanu no. 86, 310414, Arad, Romania
5 Institute of Nutrition, University of Debrecen, H-4032, Hungary
6 Department of Environment, Climate Change and Mountain Legislation, National Institute of Economic Research “Costin C. Kirițescu”/Centre of Mountain Economy CE-MONT, Petreni no. 49, 725700, Vatra Dornei, Romania
* Corresponding author: violeta_buruiana@yahoo.com
DOI:
Abstract
Quercetin is one of the most common polyphenols worldwide, named after the oak forest – quercetum. It is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants due to its five phenolic groups respectively the γ-pyrone cycle. This flavonoid and its glycosylated derivatives as rutoside, hyperoside, quercitrin or iso-quercitrin are present also in the extracts obtained from the buds of different Betula species, extracts that are therapeutic tools for the new branch of phytotherapy named gemmotherapy or meristem-therapy. In the pandemic context, quercetin and its derivatives are successfully used to improve the side or late effects of SarsCov-2 infection. Our study involved the extracts from buds of white birch (Betula pubescens) and silver birch (Betula pendula) from mountain regions. The quercetin and the rutoside were separated, identified and quantified by HPLC. The total flavonoids were determined by spectral methods. The highest quercetin-containing gemmotherapy extract is obtained from the white birch buds. Due to their rich quercetin content, these extracts can be proposed for the complementary treatment of SarsCov-2 infections and post-COVID symptoms.
Keywords:
Quercetin, rutoside, gemmotherapy, HPLC, white birch buds, silver birch buds, SarsCov-2 infection