Determination of phenolic compounds in medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family

A procedure for the determination of Phenolic compounds in extracts from the medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family-garden sage (Salvia officinalis L.), creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.), wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare L.), and common balm (Melissa officinalis L.)-obtained under different extraction conditions was developed. The identification of the extracted compounds was performed and their qualitative and quantitative composition was established by HPLC with diode array and mass-spectrometric detection with consideration for the obtained characteristics of the standard samples of individual components. The test samples of medicinal herbs contained caffeic acid (0.19-0.62 mg/g) and rosmaric acid (4-23 mg/g); the highest rosmaric acid content (23 mg/g) was found in wild marjoram, and the lowest content (4 mg/g), in creeping thyme. The extracts of wild marjoram contained the greatest amounts of Phenolic compounds; rosmaric acid and luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide were major components, whereas protocatechuic, 3-O-caffeoylquinic, and caffeic acids were minor components.