Flavonoid Patterns and their Diversity in ten Stachys L. (Lamiaceae) Species from Iran

Stachys genus with medicinal properties and high polymorphic features has been considered one of the largest genera of Lamiaceae. The aim of this study was to determine the flavonoid pattern variations and flavonoid groups in ten Stachys species belonging to two sections; Fragilicaulis, and Aucheriana. The studied species were collected from natural habitats in Iran and analysed for their flavonoid constituents using thin layer chromatography with silica gel. The purification of the flavonoid compounds of each species was carried out using column chromatography with sephadex LH20. The identification of flavonoid class was confirmed by spectral data. In order to study the flavonoid variations, cluster analysis was used with SPSS ver.20 software. The results of this study showed that the highest variations were found in Stachys pilifera Benth., Stachys aucheri Benth., Stachys ballotiformis Vatke and Stachys benthamiana Boiss. Based on the results, six flavonoid classes were identified. Most of the flavonoid classes were found to be flavones. The flavones and isoflavones were observed in section Fragilicaulis and flavanones, flavonols, isoflavones, dihydroflavonol, chalcones and flavones were in section Aucheriana. It can be concluded that the flavonoid compounds are appropriate markers in chemotaxonomic studies of the Stachys genus.