Organic foliar fertilization increases polyphenol content of Calendula officinalis L.

Industrial Crops and Products Volume 109, 15 December 2017, Pages 509-513 Author links open overlay panelVasilicaOnofreiaGabriel-CiprianTelibanaMarianBurduceabAndreiLobiucbcChristiana BrigitteSandudMarianaTocaieTeodorRobua a “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Iaşi, 700490, Romania b “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Biology Faculty, Iaşi, 700506, Romania c “Stefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, Suceava, 720229, Romania d “Al.I. Cuza” University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Iasi, 700506, Romania e University of Oradea, Faculty of Environmental Protection, Oradea, 410048, Romania Received 15 June 2017, Revised 25 August 2017, Accepted 29 August 2017, Available online 14 September 2017. crossmark-logo Show less https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.08.055Get rights and content Highlights • Calendula officinalis L. cultivated under organic fertilisation recorded higher amounts of phenolic compounds. • Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts was higher under organic fertilization. • Dynamics of marigold total phenolics and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity are presented for 2 year of cultivation. Abstract With the growing demand for ecological products, a better understanding and optimization of organic agriculture systems is required. Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) is an important medicinal and ornamental herb, cultivated on large areas in many countries. The present study evaluates total phenolics and flavonoid contents and Free radical scavenging activity of Calendula officinalis L. under organic fertilization with four different foliar fertilizers (Fylo®, Geolino Plants&Flowers®, Cropmax®, Fitokondi®) in a two year study under field conditions. The content of phenolic compounds was increased by the foliar fertilizers used in the experiment. In the first year, the highest content of total phenolics (+51%), total flavonoids (+84%) and Free radical scavenging activity (+43%) were obtained in plants fertilized with Fitokondi if compared with control. In the second year, monthly measurements showed that the highest content of total flavonoids (36.4 mg quercetin/g dry weight) and highest Free radical scavenging activity (83%) were registered in September for the Geolino treatment while the maximum total phenolic content (6.7 mg gallic acid/g dry weight) was recorded in July. Fertilization, in certain months, led to increases in flavonoid contents and in total phenolics with a maximum of 53%, respectively, 60% under Cropmax treatment, while the Free radical scavenging activity was enhanced particularly by Fitokondi, with 100% compared with control. The selected ecological foliar fertilizers used in this study can thus be used to obtain higher levels of phenolic compounds in marigold. Keywords MarigoldEcologicalTotal phenolicsFlavonoidsFree radical scavenging capacity