International Journal of Ecosystem 2016, 6(2): 35-42 DOI: 10.5923/j.ije.20160602.02 Root Flavonoids of Convolvulus L. Species in Markazi Province, Iran Batoul Bahrami 1 , Mitra Noori 2,* , Amir Mousavi 3 , Ahmad Khalighi 1 , Aliashraf Jafari 4 1 Department of Horticulture, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran 3 Department of Plant Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran 4 Department of Rangeland, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran Abstract In order to study the root flavonoids pattern of Convolvulus roots in 11 populations from four species (C. arvensis, C. commutatus, C. lineatus and C. pilosellaefolius) originated from Markazi Province, Iran, two dimensional paper chromatography (2-DPC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) were used. Results indicated that the roots contained flavonoid sulfates and flavones C and C-/O glycosides, apigenin, chrysin, genistein, kaempferol, luteolin, rhamnetin, rutin, and vitexin. hesperidin, isorhamnetin, morin, quercetin and tricine was not found in any of the taxa. Vitexin was the most found flavonoids in root. There was not any aglycone in the studied populations. All of populations had naringenin with the exception of CBB 5 , CBB 2 and CBB 6 populations. Myricetin was found in all of populations with the exception of CBB 9 (C. commutatus). Populations of CBB 19 (C. arvensis) had the most number of total flavonoids and C. lineatus and CBB 9 (C. commutatus) had the least one. Keywords Convolvulus, Root, Chemotaxonomy, Chromatography, Flavonoid, Iran 1. Introduction Flavonoids are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, leaves and flowers [1, 2]. Root flavonoids play significant roles in protecting the plants against pests and diseases, regulating root growth and functions, influencing different aspects of nitrogen cycle and exerting allelopathic growth effects. They also constitute an essential source of Pharmaceuticals [3]. The flavonoid pathway produces a diverse array of plant compounds with functions in UV protection, as antioxidants, pigments, auxin transport regulators, defense compounds against pathogens and during signaling in symbiosis [4]. Flavonoid synthesis and accumulation is often very specific for certain cell types. For example, along the length of a root, flavonoids are often accumulated at the root tip and in root cap cells. Specific flavonoid end-products are also localized to specific cell types where they could have functions in regulating [5, 6]. Within the cell, flavonoids also show specificity for their location. Flavonoids have been localized to the nucleus, the vacuole, the cell wall, cell membranes, and the cytoplasm [7-10]. To date, >10000 flavonoids have been identified in plants, and their synthesis appears to be ubiquitous in plants [11]. The flavonoid pathway is one of the best studied * Corresponding author: m-noori@araku.ac.ir (Mitra Noori) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ije Copyright © 2016 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved biosynthetic pathways of specialized metabolites. Flavonoids are phenylpropanoid metabolites, most of which are synthesized from p-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA and share their precursors with the biosynthetic pathway for lignin biosynthesis [12]. However, some rare flavonoids are synthesized from CoA esters of substrates such as cinnamic acid or dihydro-coumaric acid [13]. Their diversity stems from the generation of a number of basal flavonoid structures that include flavones, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, isoflavonoids, isoflavans, and pterocarpans. The flavonoid skeleton can be modified by glycosylation, malonylation, methylation, hydroxylation, acylation, prenylation, or polymerization, leading to the diversity of end-products [14]. These substitutions have important effects on flavonoid function, solubility, mobility, and degradation [4]. Flavonoids can also be transported within and between cells and tissues. Within the cell, flavonoids are likely to move via vesicle-mediated transport or through membrane-bound transporters of the ABC (ATP binding cassette) or MATE (multidrug and toxic extrusion compound) families [15]. Flavonoid transport into vacuoles can be achieved by conjugation of glutathione with flavonoids in the cytoplasm, followed by ATP-driven transport via glutathione S-transferasepumps [16, 17, 18]. Long-distance transport of flavonoids is less well understood but has been demonstrated in Arabidopsis, where application of flavonoids to the root or the shoot led to their transport towards distal tissues [19]. Plant chemosystematics is the application of chemical