Catechins and other phenolic compounds in herb of eight Ephedra species in comparison to Camellia sinensis .

Using HPLC-DAD the presence of catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, kaempferol and protocatehuic acid was analysed in herb extracts of eight Ephedra species ( Ephedra sinica , Ephedra major , Ephedra chilensis , Ephedra ciliata , Ephedra foeminea , Ephedra equisetina , Ephedra gerardiana and Ephedra distachya ). For comparison purposes, the same phenolics were determined in Camellia sinensis herb, which is a common source of catechins and a medicinal plant with valuable antioxidant properties. The catechin content in Ephedra spp. ranged between 0.83 mg/g d.w. - 8.77 mg/g d.w. , while the epicatechin content was between 0.11 mg/g d.w. - 3.38 mg/g d.w. In comparison to black tea, Ephedra major , Ephedra distachya and Ephedra equisetina had a higher catechin content. The selected Ephedra spp. are rich in catechins and the obtained results serve as the chemical rationale for the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities of Ephedra that are currently being investigated.