Study of morphological and phytochemical characteristics of some populations of Alcea koelzii I. Riedl. in Iran

Mashhadi Tafreshi, Yasaman; Eghlima, Ghasem

doi:10.22092/ijmapr.2025.369748.3554

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ M.Sc. student, Department of Agriculture, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Agriculture, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

10.22092/ijmapr.2025.369748.3554

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Alcea koelzii, a species within the genus Alcea and a member of the Malvaceae family, possesses a wide range of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-estrogenic, enzyme-inhibitory, and immunomodulatory activities, due to its diverse array of bioactive compounds. These constituents include flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, triterpenes, alkaloids, acidic polysaccharides (mucilage), pectins, scopoletin, asparagine, tannins, steroids, proteins, and various minerals. Considering the significance of marshmallow as a native plant species and its recognized value in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and health industries, the domestication of A. koelzii, the development of uniform high-quality cultivars, and the establishment of extensive cultivation systems are important and necessary. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the diversity of functional, morphological, and phytochemical traits-particularly anthocyanin, mucilage, and phenolic compound contents-among different A. koelzii populations as an initial step toward the cultivation and domestication of this species.
Methodology: To assess morphological, functional, and phytochemical characteristics, multiple A. koelzii populations were collected from natural habitats during the summer of 2024. Plants were harvested at full flowering to standardize the evaluation of the target indicators. Morphological and functional traits, including plant height, number of lateral branches, flower diameter, number of flowers, and flower dry weight per plant, were measured. Phytochemical attributes, comprising total phenolic content, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity, anthocyanin content, mucilage, and carbohydrate content, were also quantified. Phenolic compounds were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). All experiments were performed with five replicates, and results are reported as means ± standard deviation (SD). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed by SAS 9.4 to examine significant variation among populations, followed by Duncan’s multiple range test at p < 0.05. A biplot was produced using Origin 2022, and cluster analysis was conducted via the Euclidean distance coefficient and Ward’s method. Correlation analysis was completed using R software.
Results: The highest coefficients of variation were observed for rutin (223.37%), chlorogenic acid (195.91%), antioxidant activity (113.20%), and flower dry weight per plant (78.07%). The TAR population exhibited the highest flower dry weight (1105.14 g/plant), while the SIL population showed the lowest (672.38 g/plant). The ZAN (27.35%) and SIL (23.34%) populations demonstrated the highest mucilage contents. Anthocyanin concentration varied from 1.86 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside/g dry weight in ZAN to 3.72 mg/g in QOR. The SIL population contained the highest levels of total phenols (29.72 mg gallic acid/g dry weight) and total flavonoids (16.84 mg rutin/g dry weight). Total carbohydrate content ranged from 30.73% to 53.41%, with BAN exhibiting the highest and HAS the lowest values. HPLC analysis identified rutin, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, and apigenin as predominant phenolic compounds across populations.
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate substantial genetic diversity among A. koelzii populations in relation to morphological and phytochemical characteristics. The pronounced variability observed across key parameters underscores the strong potential of these populations for selection and utilization in breeding, cultivation, and production programs. These results support the broader goals of domestication and the commercial development of this valuable medicinal species.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Improvement and breeding

References

- Adhikari, P., Joshi, K., Singh, M. and Pandey, A., 2020. Influence of altitude on secondary metabolites, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activities of Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana). Plant Biosystems, 156(2): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2020.1845845

- AnjuIdris, M., 2018. A brief review on a Unani drug: Khatmi (Althaea officinalis). Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4(4): 394-398. https://doi.org/10.31024/ajpp.2018.4.4.3

- Arjmand, A., Ebrahimi, M., Bihamta, M.R. and Moradi, N., 2023. Evaluation of phytochemical traits in different ecotypes of marshmallow (Althaea spp.). Journal of Crops Improvement, 25(3): 755-767. https://doi.org/10.22059/jci.2023.356938.2801

- Azadeh, Z., Saeidi, K., Lorigooini, Z., Kiani, M. and Maggi, F., 2020. Organ‑oriented phytochemical profiling and radical scavenging activity of Alcea spp. (Malvaceae) from Iran. SN Applied Sciences, 2: 927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2410-3

- Bajalan, I., Mohammadi, M., Alaei, M. and Ghasemi Pirbaloti, A., 2016. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of extracts from different populations of lavandin. Industrial Crops and Products, 87: 255-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.04.059

- Bakhtiar, Z., Eghlima, G., Hatami, M. and Mirjalili, M.H., 2023. Quantification of fatty acids in seed oil and important bioactive compounds in Iranian Rosa canina L. ecotypes for potential cosmetic and medicinal uses. Scientific Reports, 13: 22721. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50135-y

- Blumenthal, M., Goldberg, A. and Brinckmann, J., 2000. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Integrative Medicine Communications, Newton, USA, 78-83. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20003018530

- Belew, A.A. and Gebre, S.H., 2025. Comparative assessment of phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities in methanol extracts of spices from Jigjiga market, Ethiopia. Pharmacological Research - Natural Products, 6: 100168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100168

- Chai, Z., Herrera-Balandrano, D.D., Yu, H., Beta, T., Zeng, Q., Zhang, X., Tian, L., Niu, L. and Huang, W., 2021. A comparative analysis on the anthocyanin composition of 74 blueberry cultivars from China. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 102: 104051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2021.104051

- Chandravanshi, K., Sahu, M., Sahu, R., Sahu, N., Lanjhiyana, S. and Chandy, A., 2022. Isolation of mucilage from herbal plants and its evaluation as a pharmaceutical excipients. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 14(3): 171-178. https://doi.org/10.52711/0975-4385.2022.00031

- Chao, D., Meng, X., Meng, J., Khan, I.H., Dai, L., Khan, A., Xingye, A.N., Zhang, J., Tanzina, H.U.Q. and Ni, Y., 2019. Chitosan as a preservative for fruits and vegetables: a review on chemistry and antimicrobial properties. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 4: 11-21. https://doi.org/10.21967/jbb.v4i1.189

- Chelghoum, M., Guenane, H., Tahri, D., Laggoun, I., Marfoua, F.Z., Rahmani, F.Z., Khenifer, F. and Yousfi, M., 2021. Influence of altitude, precipitation, and temperature factors on the phytoconstituents, antioxidant, and α-amylase inhibitory activities of Pistacia atlantica. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 6: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-021-01006-5

- Deperi, S.I., Tagliotti, M.E., Bedogni, M.C., Manrique-Carpintero, N.C., Coombs, J., Zhang, R., Douches, D. and Huarte, M.A., 2018. Discriminant analysis of principal components and pedigree assessment of genetic diversity and population structure in a tetraploid potato panel using SNPs. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194398

- Dorreshteh, A. and Tarang, A., 2019. Evaluation of genetic diversity and genetic characteristics of some of Hashemi rice cultivars using morphological traits and microsatellite markers. Journal of Crop Biotechnology, 26: 1-18. https://doi.org/10.30473/CB.2019.45192.1773

- Dubois, M., Gilles, K.A., Hamilton, J.K., Rebers, P.A. and Smith, F., 1956. Colorimetric method fordetermination of sugars and related substances. Analytical chemistry, 28(3): 350-356. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac60111a017

- Eghlima, G., Esmaeili, H., Frzaneh, M. and Mirjalili, M.H., 2024. Multivariate analysis of Equisetum arvense L. ecotypes based on silicon content, phytochemical and morphological characterization. Silicon, 16: 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02660-8

- Ezez, D. and Tefera, M., 2021. Effects of solvents on total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of ginger extracts. Journal of Chemistry, 2021: 6635199. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6635199

- Ghareaghajlou, N., Hallaj-nezhadi, S. and Ghasempour, Z., 2021. Red cabbage anthocyanins: stability, extraction, biological activities and applications in food systems. Food Chemistry, 365: 130482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130482

- Gorbani, S., Esmaeili, H., Nejad Ebrahimi, S., Palazon, J., Sonboli, A. and Mirjalili, M.H., 2020. Genetic structure, molecular and phytochemical analysis in Iranian populations of Ruscus hyrcanus (Asparagaceae). Industrial Crops and Products, 154: 112716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112716

- Gouvinhas, I., Pinto, R., Santos, R., Saavedra, M.J. and Barros, A.I., 2020. Enhanced phytochemical composition and biological activities of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) stems growing in low altitude regions. Scientia Horticulturae, 265: 109248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109248

- Granato, D., Santos, J.S., Escher, G.B., Ferreira, B.L. and Maggio, R.M., 2018. Use of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for multivariate association between bioactive compounds and functional properties in foods: A critical perspective. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 72: 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2017.12.006

- Gülçin, İ., Küfrevioğlu, Ö.İ., Oktay, M. and Büyükokuroğlu, M.E., 2005. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of Althaea officinalis root extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 97(2): 295-301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.024

- Guo, X.D., Ma, Y.J., Parry, J., Gao, J.M., Yu, L.L. and Wang, M., 2011. Phenolics content and antioxidant activity of tartary buckwheat from different locations. Molecules, 16: 9850-9867. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules16129850

- Hatami, H., Karimi, M., Aghaee, A., Bovand, F. and Ghorbanpour, M., 2022. Morphological diversity, phenolic acids, and antioxidant properties in eryngo (Eryngium caucasicum Trautv.): Selection of superior populations for agri-food industry. Food Science & Nutrition, 10: 3905-3919. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2987

- Haile, K., Mehari, B., Atlabachew, M. and Chandravanshi, B.S., 2016. Phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of cladodes of the two varieties of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) grown in Ethiopia. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, 30: 347-56. https://doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v30i3.3

- Husain, M., Wadud, A., Hamiduddin, Sofi G., Perveen, S. and Hafeez, K.A., 2019. Physicochemical standardization of mucilage obtained from Althaea officinalis Linn-Root. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 15(62): 155-161. https://doi.org/10.4103/pm.pm_123_18

- Iaccarino, N., Rossi, M., Monda, M., Tedesco, I., D'Agostino, N., Cirillo, G., Calignano, A. and Pellegrini, N., 2019. Impact of phytosterols on liver and distal colon metabolome in experimental murine colitis model: An explorative study. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 34: 1041-1052. https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2019.1623209

- Kim, J.G., Kim, H.L., Kim, S.J. and Park, K.S., 2013. Fruit quality, anthocyanin and total phenolic contents, and antioxidant activities of 45 blueberry cultivars grown in Suwon, Korea. Journal of Zhejiang University-Science B, 14: 793-799. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1300012

Liu, J., Zhou, H., Song, L., Yang, Z., Qiu, M., Wang, J. and Shi, S., 2021. Anthocyanins: promising natural products with diverse pharmacological activities. Molecules, 26(13): 3807. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26133807

- Moghtader, M., 2014. Comparative evaluation of the essential oil composition from the leaves and flowers of Hyssopus officinalis L. Journal of Horticulture and Forestry, 6(1): 1-5. https://doi.org/10.5897/JHF2013.0318

- Mousavi, S.F., Razavi, S.M.A. and Koocheki, A., 2019. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) flower gum: 397-423. In: Razavi, S.M.A., (Ed.). Emerging Natural Hydrocolloids: Rheology and Functions. Wiley, 672p. https://doi.org/101002/9781119418511.CH16

- Nayak, A.K., Hasnain, M.S., Nayak, A.K. and Hasnain, M.S., 2019. Fenugreek seed mucilage based multiple units for oral drug delivery. Plant Polysaccharides-Based Multiple-Unit Systems for Oral Drug Delivery, 93-112. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6784-68

- Pourhosseini, S.H., Mirjalili, M.H., Ghasemi, M., Ahadi, H., Esmaeili, H. and Ghorbanpour, M., 2020. Diversity of phytochemical components and biological activities in Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Lamiaceae) populations. South African Journal of Botany, 135: 148-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2020.08.024

- Radulović, N.S., Stojanović-Radić, Z.Z., Ilić, I.R. and Stojanović, N.M., 2013. Biological activities of the essential oils and extracts of Althaea officinalis L. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 78(6): 833-845. https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC120719002R

- Rawat, S., Bhatt, I.D. and Rawal, R.S., 2020. Variation in essential oil composition in rhizomes of natural populations of Hedychium spicatum in different environmental condition and habitats. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 32: 348-360. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2020.1750497

- Reinelt, N. and Melzig, M.F., 2017. Der Echte Eibisch Althaea officinalis L. Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie, 38(2): 91-96. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-103256

- Sellappan, S., Akoh, C.C. and Krewer, G., 2002. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of Georgia-grown blueberries and blackberries. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(8): 2432-2438. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf011097r

- Sharifi, B., Saeidi, K., Shiran, B., Shahbazi, E., Lorigooini, Z. and Rahimifard, M., 2024. Unveiling the mucilage complexity in a multispecies exploration of the genus Alcea from Iran. Industrial Crops and Products, 220: 119275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119275

Sharifi, B., Saeidi, K., Shiran, B., Shahbazi, E., Lori Gooini, Z. and Rahimifard, M., 2023. Evaluation of physiologicaland phytochemical traits in four different species of Alcea spp. collected from central region of Iran. Eco-phytochemical Journal of Medicinal Plant, 11(2): 21-39. https://doi.org/10.30495/ejmp.2023.1975643.1712

- Stoenescu, A.M., Trandafir, I. and Cosmulescu, S., 2022. Determination of phenolic compounds using HPLC-UV method in wild fruit species. Horticulturae, 8(2): 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8020084

- Suyal, R., Bahukhandi, A., Bhatt, I.D. and Rawal, R.S., 2021. Comparative analysis of biochemical attributes of genus Polygonatum in Western Himalaya. National Academy Science Letters, 44: 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-020-01028-5

- Suyal, R., Rawat, S., Rawal, R.S. and Bhatt, I.D., 2019. Variability in morphology, phytochemicals, and antioxidants in Polygonatum verticillatum L. All populations under different altitudes and habitat conditions in Western Himalaya India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191: 783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7687-6

- Tarang, A., Kordrostami, M., Kumleh, A.S., Chaleshtori, M.H., Saravani, A.F., Ghanbarzadeh, M. and Sattari, M., 2020. Study of genetic diversity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars of Central and Western Asia using microsatellite markers tightly linked to important quality and yield-related traits. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 67: 1537-1550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-00927-2

- Tiwari, D., Kewlani, P., Gaira, K.S., Bhatt, I.D. and Rawal, R.S., 2023. Predicting phytochemical diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) across eco-climatic zones and elevation in Uttarakhand using Generalized Additive Model. Scientific Reports, 13: 10888. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37894-4

- Uzunhisarcikli, M.E. and Vural, M., 2012. The taxonomic revision of Alcea and Althaea
(Malvaceae) in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Botany, 36: 603-636. https://doi.org/10.3906/bot-1108-11

- Waghmare, R., Moses, J.A. and Anandharamakrishnan, C., 2022. Mucilages: Sources, extraction methods, and characteristics for their use as encapsulation agents. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62(15): 4186-4207. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1873730

- Yashaswini, S., Hegde, R. and Venugopal, C., 2011. Health and nutrition from ornamentals. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy, 2(2): 375-382. https://www.ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/426_pdf.pdf

- Zargoosh, Z., Ghavam, M., Bacchetta, G. and Tavili, A., 2019. Effects of ecological factors on the antioxidant potential and total phenol content of Scrophularia striata Boiss. Scientific Reports, 9: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52605-8

- Zhang, Y., Butelli, E. and Martin, C., 2014. Engineering anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 19: 81-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2014.05.011

- Zhao, S.Y., Sun, S.G., Dai, C., Gitura, R.W., Chen, J.M. and Wang, Q.F., 2015. Genetic variation and structure in native and invasive Solidago Canadensis populations. Weed Research, 55: 163-172. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12128

Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research

Study of morphological and phytochemical characteristics of some populations of Alcea koelzii I. Riedl. in Iran

References

References

Volume 41, Issue 4 - Serial Number 126
December 2025
Pages 742-765

Study of morphological and phytochemical characteristics of some populations of Alcea koelzii I. Riedl. in Iran

References

References

Volume 41, Issue 4 - Serial Number 126December 2025Pages 742-765

Volume 41, Issue 4 - Serial Number 126
December 2025
Pages 742-765