Flavonoids and volatile compounds of Cercis siliquastrum (Fabaceae, Cercideae)

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the flavonoid and volatile compound profiles of leaves, bark, and flowers of Cercis siliquastrum L. Flavonoids were separated via chromatographic techniques and identified using NMR spectrometry and MS, while volatile compounds were analyzed by headspace GC-MS. A total of eight flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin 3-O-gallate, epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, dihydromyricetin 3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside, and myricetin 3-O-glucoside), and 27 volatile compounds were identified. Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside was detected in a high concentration in C. siliquastrum leaves and flowers, while catechin was predominantly found in the bark. Considering the GC-MS results, aldehydes dominated in C. siliquastrum leaves and flowers, and monoterpenes were the most abundant volatile compounds in the bark. Additionally, an analytical system for flavonoid analysis in C. siliquastrum was established, and the chemophenetic significance of flavonoids in the genus Cercis was discussed.