Mexican medicinal and aromatic plants have potential for their different uses and
applications. Such is the case of Mexican arnica, which has reported different biological
activities [1],[2]. This attributed to its chemical composition, mainly the phenolic compounds. The
study of the application of biophysical methods in the agricultural sector has increased.
In particular, treatments using electromagnetic field [3]. There is a history that the quality of electromagnetic radiation can affect pigment
biosynthesis [4]. With that background the objective of this work was to apply electromagnetic field
to plants of Mexican arnica (Heterotheca inuloides Cass.) and evaluate their impact on their content of phenolic compounds. Arnica seedlings
obtained in Ozumba State of Mexico, were subjected to electromagnetic field treatments
during eight exposure times: 30 sec 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 minutes and a control
treatment. Three applications of the treatments were made every 15 days. The seedlings
were transplanted in the field at room temperature. The content of phenolic acids
and flavonoids were obtained by HPLC [Fig. 1]. There were significant differences between treatments, the highest accumulation
of gallic acid (20 min exposition; 0.79 µg/mL), chlorogenic acid (45 min exposition;
222 µg/mL), syringic acid (30 min;1.61 µg/mL), vanillic acid (20 min exposicion;1.35
µg/mL), caffeic acid (30 min exposicion;1.53 µg/mL), rutin (10 min exposition; 918
µg/mL), phloridzine (10 min exposition; 5845 µg/mL), miricetin (10 min exposition;25.35
µg/mL), quercetin (5 min of exposition, 11.82 µg/mL).
Fig. 1 Chromatogram for the identification of Mexican arnica flavonoids by HPLC.
