Pelc M., Przybyszewska E., Przybył J.L., Capecka E., Bączek K. and Węglarz Z.

The aim of the investigation was to compare 10 populations of great burnet growing wild in Poland in respect of phenolic compounds accumulation. Total content of tannins and phenolic acids were determined according to Polish Pharmacopoeia and qualitative analysis by HPLC. District differences in the content of determined phenolic compounds both between the populations originating from different regions of Poland and between the populations from the same region were observed. Differences in the content of particular phenolic compounds between herb and roots were found too. In herb five phenolic acids were identified, namely: chlorogenic, ellagic, gallic, caffeic, and rosmarinic acid, whereas in underground organs two phenolic acids (ellagic and gallic) and four catechin derivatives (/+/-catechin, /-/-epigallocatechin, /-/-epicatechin, and /-/-epigallocatechin gallate). Dominating phenolic compounds in herb were gallic and chlorogenic acids, whereas in underground organs - gallic acid, catechin and epicatechin.

Key words: great burnet herb, great burnet root, phenolic compounds, HPLC