The evaluation of the milk thistle [Silybum marianum L. Gaernt.) fruit quality depending on the pericarp colour JAN DYDUCH*, AGNIESZKA NAJDA Department of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, Agricultural University, Kr. Leszczynskiego 58, 20-068 Lublin, Poland "corresponding author: e-mail: katedra.warzywnictwa@ar.lublin.pl Summary The fruit of the milk thistle, classified to three groups with regard to their seed pericarp colour: beige, light brown and dark brown, underwent a laboratory experiment. The relationship between the pericarp colour and thousand fruit mass as well as their sprout ability was indicated. The parameters of sprouting represented by the Pieper's and Maguier's coefficients dynamics were also determined. The fruit were also evaluated for their usefulness in pharmacy by determination of flavonolignans content using the calculation into silibin. On the basis of the experiment it was proved that the fruit with dark brown pericarp contain more flavonolignans in comparison to beige and light brown fruit. Key words: Silybum marianum Gaertn., colour of the generative diaspors, MTF, the germinatio ability, flavonolignans, silibin Both in domestic and foreign scientific literature there are many papers raising dependencies between various seeds morphological features and their quality as a propagating plant material [1-7]. As it is emphasised, the colour of seed coat may also be the seeds' quality indicator. If the seed coat colour is typical for species or variety given, indicates proper collection time, flill maturity, proper drying, threshing, cleaning, storage and trading. Such seeds have longer capability and energy of sprouting [4, 6, 8, 9). An atypical colour of the seed coat (often connected with seeds shape and size change) results either from agrotechnical faults (e.g. too early or too late harvest time, mistakes in plant protection, etc.) or from improper drying conditions, plant enrichment or storage. This colour is characteristic for immature or overripe seeds [3, 7, 10] as well as improperly stored and infected by pathogens [11]. It often results in plant's ability to sprout and grow in field [12, 13]. kerlvi ftdcnlea Vol. 53 No 3 2007
J. Dyduch, A. Najda 332 The seeds (or fruits) of some plants indicate the seed coat changeability after harvest. Two-colour or multi-colour seeds with various colour and shape intensity of the coat may occur within the same species or variety. The milk thistle is a plant in which uneven flowering and maturing of particular inflorescences may be observed. During harvest, the fruits originate from inflorescences of various order, they differ in age, stage and ripening conditions, simultaneously indicating high changeability in the pericarp colour [14-16]. Therefore, it is worth taking into account whether the pericarp colour is compatible with quality both of the propagatory material and herbal plant material (chemical composition). MATERIAL AND METHODS The fruit of the milk thistle Silybum marianum L. Gaertn cv. 'Silma' obtained from our own agrotechnical experiments carried out in Felin, on the experimental fields of Agricultural University in Lublin in 2003-2004 were the subject of the scientific research. The plant was cultivated according to the rules established for this species cultivation. The scientific material was divided into three groups depending on the pericarp colour (beige, light brown and dark brown group). The group of undivided fruit served as a control sample. The divided fruit underwent a laboratory evaluation. Such parameters as a thousand fruit mass and germination ability (after 7 days and 21 days) were determined in divided groups of fruit according to Polish Norm [17]. The fruit germination in dishes began 3 days after placing the fruit in a sprouter. The fruit with a visible germinal root were counted and removed every ; day. The germination dynamics was determined in calculation of two coefficients: the Pieper's coefficient (i.e. average germination time) and the Maguire's coefficient (i.e. average number of seedlings germinating daily). Moreover, the content of flavonolignans in the milk thistle fruit was determined according to the Polish Norm [18]. The results obtained were statistically elaborated with the use of variantion analysis and T-Tukey confidence intervals allowing 5% relevance level. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A decisive influence of the pericarp colour in the thousand fruit mass was observed in both years of the scientific experiment. The biggest mass was observed in dark brown fruit (2003-26.0 g and 2004-27.0 g), the smallest - in beige fruit (2003-21.7 g and 2004-22.2 g). The mass of the control sample (undivided seeds) ranged from 24.2 g to 25.0 g. It was also indicated that there are no decisive dif ferences in mass obtained in the years of the experiment duration. The obtained results were compared to the values presented by Czabajska et al. 114] and Ruminska 119]. The exception was a group of the fruit with beige fruit coat, whose sprout ability was much lower in comparison to data presented in scientific literature.
The evaluation of the milk thistle {Silybum marianum L. Gaemt.) fruit quality depending on the pericarp colour 333 Individual fruit began to sprout after 3-4 days. More of sprouts occurred in after 6 days. Next sprouting in individual fruit was observed again after 12-14 days. Table 1 presents the parameters of germinating pace. The first of germinating in the control sample ranged from 66.9% to 70.2%, while in fruit of various colours ranged from 50.2% to 86.3%. The dependence between the fruit colour and the first germination test was indicated. The light browns had the highest germination, the lowest was observed in beige ones. The difference between the germination ability was 5.1-6.4% for the fruit from the control sample, and 1.8-7.2% for the fruit of various colours. The energy determination and the sprout ability allows to adapt an appropriate norm of sowing to the sowing material quality. The examined dark brown and light brown milk thistle as well as those of control sample met the Polish Norm standards [17]. Table 1. The relationship between the fruit coat colour and the mass of a thousand fruit (MTF) and the sprout ability observed in the milk thistle fruit. difference between second and first 1000 fruit weight (g) first counting {%) pericarp colour counting of germination {%) 2003 2004 2003 2004 2003 2004 beige 21.7 22.2 50.5 52.0 7.2 6.5 ligiit brown 26.0 26.7 82.3 86.3 1.8 2.1 dark brown 26.1 27.0 73.9 78.3 4,6 5.3 control 24.2 25.0 66.9 70.2 5.4 6.1 mean 24.5 25.2 68.4 71.7 4.8 5.0 pericarp colour 2.360 3.012 5.641 6.423 2.450 2.071 years n.l. 2.923 1.058 Table 2. The comparison of germination dynamics andflavonolignanscontent depending on the pericarp colour in the milk thisde fruit. Pieper's coefficient Maguire s coefficient pericarp colour of days (individual day ') flawonolignans content (X) 2003 2004 2003 2004 2003 2004 beige 15.6 17.2 1.5 1.1 2.54 2.12 light brown 3.7 4.0 16.3 15.7 3.10 2.86 dark brown 2.1 2.6 20.0 18.7 3.93 3.58 control 7.4 8.8 15.0 12.7 3.26 3.08 mean 7.2 8.2 13.2 12.0 3.21 2.91 pericarp colour 1.215 2.101 8.011 7.837 0.361 0.522 years n.i. n.i. 0.564 Vol.53 No 3 2007
J. Dyduch, A. Najda 334 The average time of germination (the Piper s coefficient) depended on the fruit coat colour (Table 2). The highest sprouting dynamics in both years of the experiment was observed in dark brown and light brovm fruit (2003-2.1 days and 2004-2.6 days), the longest germination time was observed in beige fruit (2003-15.6 days and 2004-17.2 days). The opposite proportion of parameters presented was observed with the Maguire coefficient. The biggest amount of daily sprouting seedlings was observed in dark brown and light brown fruit (2003-20.0day' and 2004-18.7-day ^), the lowest amount - in beige seeds (2003-1.5-day' and 2004-1.1 -day'). The quality of the milk thistle fruit used as a herbal plant is determined by flavonolignans content calculated into silibin. A decisive influence of the fruit coat colour on the silimarin content was indicated in both years of the experiment. The highest flavonolignans content was observed in brown fruit (3.93% and 3.58%, respectively). The beige fruit had the lowest content of these components (2.54% and 2.12%, respectively). Regardless from the fruit coat colour, the highest content of silimarin was observed in 2003 (average 3.21%) in comparison to the fruit obtained in 2004 (average 3.08%). In terms of the silimarin content, the examined fruit met the requirements of herbal plant materials regardless from the pericarp colour [17, 20, 21]. CONCLUSIONS 1. The relationship between the pericarp colour and mass of a thousand fruit and their ability to germination was indicated. 2. The fruit of light brown colour indicated the highest germination, the lowest was observed in the fruit of beige colour. 3. The experiment showed a significant relationship between the pericarp colour and the germination dynamics in the milk thistle determined by the Pieper's and Maguier's coefficients. 4. The highest content of flavonolignans in both years of the experiment was observed in the brown fruit (3.93% in 2003 and 3.58% in 2004). The beige fruit were the material with the lowest content of these components (2.54% in 2003 and 2.12% in 2004). REFERENCES 1. Woyke H, Sokotowska A. Wptyw temperatury na dynamik^ kietkowania nasion marchwi, pietruszki i cebuli. Hodowla Roslin i Nasiennictwo. Biuletyn Branzowy 1995, 2:26-9. 2. Sokotowska A, Szafirowska A, Kotosowski S, Woyke H. Wspotzaleznosc mi^dzy cechami nasion a wschodami kopru {Anethum graveolens L.) w polu. Biul IHAR, 1994; 192:135-41. 3. Dyduch J. Badania nad uprawq selerow naciowych [Apium graveolens L. van duke Pers.) na nasiona. Rozprawa habilitacyjna, Wydawnictwo Akademii Rolniczej, Lublin 1987. 4. KoztowskiJ, Szczyglewska D, Kitkowska S. Biologia kietkowania nasion roslin leczniczych. XV. Nasiona Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC.-jedynego wazniejszego gatunku z rodziny Campanulaceae. Herba Pol 1994, 1/2:12-16. 5. Koztowski J, Szczyglewska D.. Biologia kietkowania nasion roslin leczniczych. Vd. Nasiona Origanum vulgare L. Herba Pol 1994; 3:79-82.
The evaluation of the milk thistle {Silybum marianum I. Gaemt.) fruit quality depending on the pericarp colour 335 6. Formanowiczowa H.. Zmiany sity i energii kietkowania nasion po zbiorze u niektorych roslin leczniczych. Biul IRL 1957,3:240-50. 7. Miles DF, Tekrony DM, Egli DB. Changes in viability, germination, and respiration of freshly harvested soyabean seed during development. Crop Sci 1988, 28:700-4. 8. Cray D. The germination response to temperature of carrot seeds from different umbels and times of harvest of the seed crop. Seed Sci Technol 1979, 7(2): 169-78. 9. Grzesiuk S. Fizjologiczne i biochemiczne przemiany w dojrzewaj^cych nasionach. Zesz Probl Post Nauk Roln 1971; 113:29-68. 10. Seidler-tozykowa K. Ostropest plamisty {Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn). W: Duczmal K. W., Tucholska H. (red.). Nasiennictwo. t.2: Rozmnazanie materiatu siewnego. PWRiL, Poznari 2000:338-41.Ostrope 11. Chodulska L, Palonka S, Wojcik I. Wpfyw uszkodzeri na wartosc siewnq nasion rdznych odmian grochu ogrodowego {Pisum sativum L.). Mat. II Ogolnopolskiego Zjazdu Hodowcow Roslin Ogrodniczych, Lublin 1992:95-8. 12. Woyke H, Sokotowska A, Szafirowska A Wielkosc nasion roslin baldaszkowatych. Hodowla Roslin i Nasiennictwo. Biuletyn Branzowy 1994, 3:11-17. 13. Sokotowska A, Szafirowska A, Janas R, Kotosowski S, Woyke H. Wptyw wielkosci nasion na kietkowanie i wschody pietruszki {Petroselinum crispum van tuberosum). Biul. IHAR 1994, 192:143-53. 14. Czabajska W, Kazmierczak K, Maciotowska-Ludowicz E.. Prace hodowlane nad ostropestem plamistym {Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.). I. Biologia rozwoju, kwitnienia i owocowania. Herba Pol 1989,35(2-3):109-15. 15. AndrzejewskaJ, Skinder Z, Sadowska K.. Wptyw czynnikow agroklimatycznych na plon i sktad chemiczny OWOCOW ostropestu plamistego {Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.). Herba Pol 2005 v. 51, suppl. 1:106-8. 16. Ram G, Bhan MK, Gupta KK, Thaker B, jamwalu U, Pal S. Variability pattern and correlation studies in Silybum marianum I. Gaertn. Fitoterapia 2005, 76:143-7. 17. Material Siewny. Metody badania nasion. Polski Komitet Normalizacji, Miar i jakosci: 3. Polska Norma PN-R-65950 1994. 18. Surowce zielarskie. Pobieranie probek i metody badari. Polski Komitet Normalizacji, Miar i Jakosci: 20. Polska Norma PN-91/R-87019 1991. 19. Rumiiiska A. (red.) Poradnik plantatora ziot. PWRiL, Poznan 1991:301-5. 20. Kohmunzer S. Farmakognozja. PZWL, Warszawa 1998: 190-3. 21. Glinka R, GoraJ. Zwi^zki naturalne w kosmetyce. Biblioteka Salonu i Elegancji - Kosmetik International, Warszawa 2000:216-18. OCENA JAKOSCI OWOCOW OSTROPESTU PLAMISTEGO (SILYBUM MARIANUM I. GAERTN.) W ZALEZNOSCI OD BARWYICH OWOCNI JAN DYDUCH*, AGNIESZKA NAJDA Katedra Warzywnictwa i Roslin Leczniczych, Akademia Rolnicza ul. Kr. Leszczynskiego 58, 20-068 Lublin, *autor, do ktorego nalezy kierowac korespondencj^: e-mail: katedra.warzywnictwa@ar.lublin.pl Streszczenie Badaniom laboratoryjnym poddano owoce ostropestu plamistego, ktore sklasyfikowano w trzech grupach w zaleznosci od barwy ich owocni na: bezowe, Jasnobrunatne i brunatne. Wykazano istotnq zaleznosc mi^dzy barwq owocni a masq tysiqca owocow i ich zdolnosciq kietkowania. Ponadto okreslono parametry dynamiki kidkowania wyrazone Vol. 53 No 3 2007
J. Dyduch, A. Najda 336 wspotczynnikami Pieper a i Maguier a. Owoce oceniono rowniez pod wzgl^dem przydatnosci w przemysle farmaceutycznym, okreslajqc zawartosc flawonolignanow w przeliczeniu na syiibin^. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badah udowodniono, ze owoce o brunatnym zabarwieniu okrywy nasiennej zawierajq istotnie wi^cej tych zwiqzkow w porownaniu z nasionami jasnobrunatnymi i bezowymi. Stowa kluczowe: Silybum marianum Gaertn., barwa owocni, MTO, zdolnosc kietkowania, flawono lignany, sylibina -