Evaluation of Medical Metabolites in Boraginaceae Family

Boraginaceae family is known as a medicinal plant classified in dicotyledons. It is originated from Asia (Middle East). The aim of this study was to evaluate ingredient between 4 species of Boraginaceae family based on physiological & phytochemical traits as well as seed fatty acid contents. 4 species (E. russicum, E. italicum, E. amoenum, and B. officinalis) were evaluated carefully. All seeds were cultivated in an identical conditions in a greenhouse in Tehran to assesse parameters such as tannins, phenols, anthocyanin, total protein, seed oil contents, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and Catalase (CAT) activity. Analysis of oil from seeds of EchiumL. determined 7 different fatty acids including Linolenic acid (35.1%), Linoleic acid (16.8%), Oleic acid (16.6%) and Arachidonic acid (15.5%) as major fatty acids, while stearic acid (4.42%), Palmitic acid (6.22%), Gama-Linolenic acid (6.04%) were the minor fatty acids extracted from seeds. Low protein content was observed in E. russicum(70 mg/g) and maximum level of protein was in B. officinalis(91mg/g). E. amoenum had maximum phenols (38mg/g) whereas E. russicum had minimum (26 mg/g). For total phenol, B. officinalis had maxium phenols (8.1mg/g) whereas E. italicum had minimum (3.9mg/g). Anthocyanins: E. russicum had maximum anthocyanins (65 mg/g) whereas B. officinalis had minimum (41 mg/g). In conclusion, it can be said that different species had different amounts of secondary metabolites so that no regular relation would be detected among plant species that we studied.