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ABSTRACT: Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) is currently appreciated as a source of resveratrol, a stilbene with exceptional potential in the management of cardiometabolic disorders and cancer. While the underground parts of plants growing in Asia are particularly researched for the extraction of resveratrol, plant populations growing in Europe have mostly received attention due to their highly invasive character. The potential use of invasive Polygonum cuspidatum is unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate invasive Japanese knotweed populations growing in Romania as a source of plant material for further research of its medicinal potential. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis (TG/DSC) were employed to characterize the rhizome extract. Subsequently, the kinetic response upon treatment with DPPH was monitored as a measure of the antioxidant activity and related to the total phenolic content. The total phenolic content of the extract measured in the current study was 146.34±5.36 mg/g extract expressed as gallic acid equivalents. Our results establish a useful background for the potential inclusion of wild growing knotweed in dietary supplements and cosmetic preparations.
Keywords: Polygonum cuspidatum, FT-IR, DPPH, antioxidant, polyphenols
INTRODUCTION:
Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. and Zucc. (syn. Fallopia japónica (Houtt.) Ronse Decraene, Reynoutria japónica Houtt.), known as Japanese knotweed, is a herbaceous plant originating from Asia. It grows as well in Europe and North America where it is considered an invasive plant (Weston et al., 2005).
Japanese knotweed is well-known for its content in resveratrol, a stilbene found in the underground parts. P. cuspidatum growing in Asia represents today the main source for the extraction of resveratrol (Wang et al., 2013). This molecule has intensely been researched in the context of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (Petrovski et al., 2011; Poulsen et al., 2013), as well as an anticancer agent (Carter et al., 2014). It is one of the most promising natural compounds, displaying antioxidant, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective (Smoliga et al., 2011), antidiabetic, and anti-obesity activities (Szkudelska et al., 2010).
Besides being a mere source of resveratrol, P. cuspidatum has a well-established history of traditional uses in Chinese medicine, where the roots and rhizomes are used in inflammatory diseases, hepatitis, diarrhea and tumors (Wang et al., 2013). Extracts from Japanese knotweed have been studied for several therapeutic activities, related to traditional indications...