Evaluation of 60Co-gamma radiosterilization on Chinese medicines with HPLC/FTIR

Analysis of the effect of 60Co irradiation sterilization on the chemical composition of volatile organic compounds in Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii using GC-IMS

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii were extracted via steam distillation and then irradiated with 60Co-γ rays, in which doses of 60Co-γ 0, 5, and 10 kGy were selected to irradiate the VOCs. Finally, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was used to compare the differences between the VOCs, and then qualitatively analyse the components and contents of each part of the VOCs The results showed that under the three irradiation doses of 60Co-γ 0, 5 and 10 kGy, the VOCs of unirradiated and 5 kGy-irradiated samples were closer, and the samples irradiated at a 10 kGy dose were quite different from the other two components, meaning that when the calamus medicinal materials were sterilised by means of 60Co irradiation, the dose of 5 kGy was closer to the original compound content of the medicinal materials.

Investigation of 60Co Irradiation on the Volatile Organic Compounds from Finger Citron (Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus) Using GC-IMS

In recent years, as the desire for a healthy lifestyle has become more widespread, consumers are gaining an increasing appreciation for safe, high-quality food. Researchers are constantly seeking new ways to protect foods from insect pests and fungi. This study used GC-IMS to analyze the volatile organic compounds and flavor characteristics of Finger Citron in response to different doses of 60Co irradiation. The principal component analysis method was used to explore the overall differences in flavor spectra, and a total of 60 compounds were identified. The fingerprints of volatile organic compounds in the samples showed that the volatile organic compounds with doses of 60Co irradiation in about 0 kGy and 5 kGy are similar, while the 10 kGy samples are quite different. The PCA results showed that the similarity between 0 kGy and 5 kGy was slightly higher, and the difference between 10 kGy and other samples was greater. Therefore, it was determined that 60Co irradiation with a 10 kGy intensity has a significant influence on the content of volatile oils components, while 60Co irradiation with a 5 kGy intensity has little effect. Irradiation technology is demonstrated as a promising method of food sterilization, but the irradiation dose and chemical composition must be taken into consideration.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of oxyresveratrol alone and in combination with piperine as a bioenhancer in rats

Background

Oxyresveratrol is a major bioactive component derived from the heartwood of Artocarpus lacucha. This compound exerts several biological activities, including neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo. However, there is limited pharmacokinetic information on this compound, especially its distribution in neuronal tissue and its route of excretion. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of oxyresveratrol alone and in combination with piperine as a bioenhancer in rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were administered with oxyresveratrol 10 mg/kg, oxyresveratrol 10 mg/kg plus piperine 1 mg/kg via intravenous or oxyresveratrol 100 mg/kg, oxyresveratrol 100 mg/kg plus piperine 10 mg/kg via oral gavage. Plasma, internal organs, urine, and feces were collected. Determination of the oxyresveratrol concentration in biological samples was performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

The combination with piperine had shown a significantly higher maximum concentration in plasma approximately 1500 μg/L within 1–2 h after oral dosing, and could increase oral bioavailability of oxyresveratrol approximately 2–fold. Oxyresveratrol could widely distributed most of the internal organs with a tissue to plasma ratio of 10–100 fold within 5 min after dosing. Urinary excretion of oxyresveratrol glucuronide was the major route of excretion after administration of oxyresveratrol alone and in combination with piperine.

Conclusion

The addition of piperine could enhance some of the pharmacokinetic properties of oxyresveratrol via both intravenous and oral administration. This pharmacokinetic information will be useful for appropriate strategies to develop oxyresveratrol as a phytopharmaceutical product.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-019-2653-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Phytochemistry, Bioactivity and Potential Impact on Health of Juglans: the Original Plant of Walnut

Walnuts are seeds with a hard shell from the genus Juglans (J. mandshurica, J. regia, J. sinensis, J. cathayensis, J. nigra and J. sigillata). Walnuts can nourish brain cells to improve human memory. Other parts of the plant are also employed as traditional Chinese medicines. Modern research on Juglans species has been mostly focused on the above-mentioned species, the seeds of which are all called walnuts. Juglans species have diverse chemical constituents, including diarylheptanoids, quinones, polyphenols, flavones and terpenes. The diarylheptanoids and quinones have notable antitumor activity, supplying new lead compounds for preparing antitumor drugs. The potent pain-relieving, antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor activities of these plants are significant. In the review, comprehensive information on the nutritional characteristics, traditional functions, chemical constituents, and biological activities of the Juglans species, together with the seeds used as walnuts is provided to explore their potential and to advance research.

Modification of oral absorption of oxyresveratrol using lipid based nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to develop and assess nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) compared to solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) for improving the oral bioavailability of oxyresveratrol (OXY). The OXY formulated as SLN (OXY-SLN) and NLC (OXY-NLC) were prepared by a high shear homogenization technique. The optimized OXY-NLC (NLC3) produced smaller nanoparticle sizes (96±0.9nm) than that of the OXY-SLN (108±0.3nm) with a homogeneous size distribution and a high zeta potential. The spherical NLC had a significantly higher efficiency for OXY entrapment (89±0.1%) and a better stability than the SLN after storage for 12 months at 4±2°C according to parameters such as smaller particles, greater zeta potential and a higher loading capacity (p<0.05). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed a less ordered crystalline structure of NLC than SLN. The accumulated drug in an amorphous state in the NLC was also confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The in vitro release profiles of the OXY-NLC showed a more sustained release compared to the SLN and unformulated OXY. The in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles implied enterohepatic recycling of OXY in the Wistar rat. Meanwhile, the oral absorption pattern of OXY was modified by both types of lipid nanoparticles. The SLN and NLC increased the relative bioavailability of OXY to 125% and 177%, respectively, compared with unformulated OXY. These findings indicated that NLC could be used as a potential carrier to improve the oral bioavailability of OXY.

In vitro pharmacokinetic characterization of mulberroside A, the main polyhydroxylated stilbene in mulberry (Morus alba L.), and its bacterial metabolite oxyresveratrol in traditional oral use

Mulberroside A (MulA) is one of the main bioactive constituents in mulberry (Morus alba L.). This study examined the determining factors for previously reported oral pharmacokinetic profiles of MulA and its bacterial metabolite oxyresveratrol (OXY) on in vitro models. When incubated anaerobically with intestinal bacteria, MulA underwent rapid deglycosylation and generated two monoglucosides and its aglycone OXY sequentially. MulA exhibited a poor permeability and predominantly traversed Caco-2 cells via passive diffusion; yet, the permeation of OXY across Caco-2 cells was much more rapid and involved efflux (both p-glycoprotein and MRPs)-mediated mechanisms. Moreover, OXY underwent extensive hepatic glucuronidation; yet, the parent MulA was kept intact in liver subcellular preparations. There was insignificant species difference in intestinal bacterial conversion of MulA and the extent of OXY hepatic glucuronidation between humans and rats, while OXY exhibited a distinct positional preference of glucuronidation in the two species. Overall, these findings revealed a key role of intestinal bacterial conversion in absorption and systemic exposure of MulA and its resultant bacterial metabolite OXY in oral route in humans and rats and warranted further investigational emphasis on OXY and its hepatic metabolites for understanding the benefits of mulberry.