Alkylamide and Cichoric Acid Levels inEchinacea purpureaTissues During Plant Growth

Abstract

Echinacea purpurea plants grown at two sites were analyzed for alkylamides and cichoric acid content at four growth stages from pre-flowering to senescence. Total alkylamide concentration in the root, stem and leaf decreased throughout the first growing season while the concentration in flowers increased. In mature plants, the root contained about 70 percent of the total plant alkylamides with approximately 20 percent in flower, 10 percent in stem and 1 percent in leaf tissue. The relative proportion of individual alkylamides in the root did not change during plant growth. Cichoric acid concentration in plant tissues did not change during plant growth, but did decrease during plant senescence. Similar concentrations of cichoric acid were measured in root, flower and leaf tissues, but stem levels were lower. In mature plants, the flower and leaf each contained about 35 percent of the total plant cichoric acid while the root and stem contained approximately 20 and 10 percent, respectively.