Seasonal variation of phenolic compounds in Zostera marina (Zosteraceae) from the Baltic Sea

Seasonal variations of phenolic compounds, in leaves of Zostera marina L. from the Baltic Sea near Kiel/Germany were investigated. Dominant compounds were mono- and disulfated flavonoids and phenylpropanoic acids, in particular luteolin 7,3'-O-disulfate and diosmetin 7-O-sulfate as well as rosmarinic acid, a dimeric phenylpropanoid. All detected sulfated flavones showed similar seasonal trends: there were two significant concentration peaks in June and November. Moreover, two geographically distinct flavonoid chemotypes were identified based on their respective main flavonoid; one chemotype was characterized by the prevalence of luteolin 7,3'-O-disulfate (German Baltic Sea), and the other by the prevalence of diosmetin 7-O-sulfate (Norwegian North Sea). Furthermore, an undescribed tetrameric phenylpropanoid, 7 '',8 ''-didehydrosalvianolic acid B, was isolated and its structure was established by extensive NMR, MS, and CD experiments. This compound inhibited activity of Na+/K+-ATPase in the micro-molar range without any cytotoxic effects against human cancer and normal cells.