Phytochemical Active Composites in Rosa Roxburghii Tratt. : Content Distribution and Spectroscopic Characterization

Rosa roxburghii Tratt. (RRT) is a perennial deciduous shrub of Rosa genus in Rosaceae. Its fruit has specific nutritional and medicinal values due to a variety of bioactive ingredients present in a substantial amount. This study used NIR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies to characterize the chemical composites of the RRT fruit extracts in 301 batches from different planting origins. Meanwhile, the distribution characteristics of the contents of total phenols (TPC) , total flavonoids (TFC) , and total triterpenoids (TTC) in the extracts were not only discussed, but also the antioxidant activities concerning free radical scavenging capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power, concerning the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. Results showed high TPC, TFC and TTC in RRT fruit, as were 9. 23 similar to 37. 45, 8. 80 similar to 27. 96 and 6. 91 similar to 22. 62 mg. g(-)(1) FW, respectively, which possibly led to a pretty good free radical scavenging capacity and reducing power. The scavenging rate of DPPH ranged between 14. 39%similar to 83. 19% , the scavenging rate of ABTS was 18. 50%similar to 68. 45% , and FRAP varied in 0. 08 similar to 0. 44 mmol . L-1TE.g(-1) FW. The statistical analysis indicated that all the individual TPC, TFC, TTC, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP values from 301 batches were normally distributed. The samples used in the study might be pooled from the population and thus diverse, representative, and random. There was no significant statistical difference in the contents of active composites and antioxidant activities of the extracts regardless of the planting origins. All the UV-Vis-NIR and fluorescence spectra had characteristic bands. The resultant principal discriminant variate (PDV) models were able to identify the samples from eight planting origins from each other. When combined with the PDV models the UV-Vis, NIR and fluorescence spectroscopies could be used for compositional characterization, rapid detection and discrimination of the extracts. This work provided a new idea for the quality evaluation, strain selection and resource development of RRT, among other medicinal-edible plants. However, it was neither reliable at all through testing the contents of active constituents and antioxidant activities of RRT samples to determine the compositional information of plant extracts, nor possible for the origin traceability purpose.