Comprehensive Assessment of Phytochemical Potential ofTanacetum parthenium(L.): Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, Essential Oil and Parthenolide

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L. Schultz Bip.) has a lot of secondary metabolites, such as phenols, essential oils and sesquiterpene lactones (parthenolide) which have high value in chemotaxonomy and medicine. This study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical potential of Feverfew. Parthenolide was identified by UPLC-MRM-MS. The essential oil was extracted by Clevenger and essential oil components were identified by GC/MS. Other factors were measured by a spectrophotometer. Results showed that despite some minor differences, there was no significant difference among phytochemical parameters. The average of total phenolic content, flavonoids and anthocyanin content, were respectively 21.42, 1.9 and 0.076 mg/g DW. The antioxidant capacity of the extract in inhibiting free radicals was 74.82 %. Minimum, maximum and average of parthenolide content, were respectively 1.73, 1.86 and 1.89 mg/g DW. The average content of the essential oil was 0.84 % (V/W). Eighty-one compounds of the essential oil were separated. Seventy-seven compounds were identified which totally contained (96.64 %-98.15 %) of the total components. The main components of the essential oil were camphor (27.75 %-29.11 %), neryl acetate (8.94 %-11.05 %) and ρ-cymene (5.93 %-7.01 %), respectively. The first and the last classes of compounds were oxygenated monoterpene (62.81 %-68.38 %) and phenyl propanoides (0.16 %-0.28 %). Spiroether as a new valuable compound was detected for the first time in this plant. Results determined that climate conditions were prevailing than edaphic conditions in the stability of phytochemical compounds synthesis.