The content of phenolic compounds in the leaves of Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. and their antioxidant activity

The tree peony, which is considered a traditional ornamental plant in China, Japan, America and Europe, is also widely used as a medicinal plant. The collection of tree peonies in the State Scientific Institution “Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus” is represented by four taxa. The aim of our work was to assess the quantitative composition of the sum of phenolic compounds and hydroxylcinnamic acids in the leaves of the genus Paeonia, as well as to assess the antioxidant status of these samples depending on the phase of ontogenesis. As a result of the studies, a high content of phenolic compounds and hydroxycinnamic acids in the leaves of the studied taxa of the genus Paeonia was established, including the content exceeding the threshold of 65 mg/g in the leaves of Paeonia suffruticosa in all observed phases of ontogenesis. In the studied varieties, the proportion of hydroxycinnamic acids in the composition of phenolic compounds ranged from 25 to 50 %. Extracts of leaves of the Paeonia genus collected during the flowering period had the maximum antioxidant activity. Thus, the above data indicate that the aerial part of the Paeonia genus can be considered as a promising raw material for the creation of herbal remedies with antioxidant action.