Phytochemical Variability of Advanced Breeding Lines of Jasminum sambac Leaves: Implications for Breeding and Industrial Applications

Abstract

The leaves of Jasminum sambac are rich in secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids, which contribute to its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Young, tender, fully opened leaves were harvested from healthy, mature plants during the peak vegetative growth phase (June–July 2024) to ensure consistency in phytochemical content. Fresh leaves were immediately processed for phytochemical analysis to minimize degradation of bioactive compounds. This study investigates the phytochemical composition of leaves from 30 advanced breeding lines of Jasminum sambac (Mysuru mallige), focusing on phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids. Significant variability was observed across the genotypes, with phenolic content ranging from 174.98 to 260.83 mg/100 g, flavonoids from 73.21 to 117.08 mg/100 g, tannins from 22.92 to 47.81 mg/100 g and terpenoids from 18.27 to 27.95 mg/100 g. Genotypes COHM-UHSB-14, COHM-UHSB-30, COHM-UHSB-8 and COHM-UHSB-1 exhibited the highest levels of phenols, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids, respectively. These findings highlight the genetic diversity among advanced breeding lines and their potential for targeted breeding programs to enhance antioxidant, antimicrobial and fragrance properties for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and industrial applications. The variability underscores the importance of genotype selection in optimizing phytochemical profiles for specific industrial uses.