The effect of provenance and species on the chemical composition of <i>Epilobium</i> herbal tea.

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Original abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Commercial herbal teas marketed as <i>Epilobium</i> herb are widely consumed in Europe for prostate-related and anti-inflammatory effects. However, they are often sold under generic names without clear species differentiation or quality specifications, raising concerns about chemical consistency and therapeutic equivalence.<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the chemical equivalence of commercial <i>Epilobium</i> products and refine the framework for quality marker selection by integrating pharmacological relevance with structural assessment.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>Sixteen commercial tea samples labeled as <i>E. angustifolium, E. parviflorum, E. hirsutum</i>, from eight European countries were analyzed using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and validated by HPLC-DAD. Candidate markers were prioritized using the Herbal Chemical Marker Ranking System (Herb MaRS) and further assessed <i>via</i> Pan-Assay Interference Compounds (PAINS) structural filters.<h4>Results</h4>Significant qualitative and quantitative heterogeneity was observed across all samples, including those labeled as the same species. Oenothein B was the dominant compound but exhibited high variability (7.9-48.7 mg/g DW; CV >50%) and was significantly higher in <i>E. hirsutum</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Flavonol glycosides (e.g., hyperoside, isoquercitrin) also varied substantially. Although species identity influenced phenolic profiles, overlapping concentration ranges indicated a lack of chemical equivalence among products. Geographic origin contributed additional but secondary variability.<h4>Discussion</h4>Oenothein B, hyperoside, and isoquercitrin were identified as priority quality markers based on abundance and analytical suitability. Structural reassessment demonstrated that pharmacological ranking alone may be misleading for polyphenol-rich matrices due to redox-related interference.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Commercial <i>Epilobium</i> teas differ chemically and are not interchangeable. A structure-informed approach is essential for reliable quality assessment and for aligning commercial products with pharmacopeial standards.

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