An improved HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous quantification of triterpenic glycosides and aglycones in leaves of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb (APIACEAE)

Exogenous glycine betaine alleviates water-deficit stress in Indian pennywort (Centella asiatica) under greenhouse conditions

Centella asiatica (Indian pennywort) is a green leafy vegetable containing centelloside' (triterpenoid), a key phytochemical component in traditional medicine. Being a glycophytic species, they exhibit decline in growth performance and yield traits when subjected to water-deficit (WD) conditions. Glycine betaine (GB) is a low molecular-weight organic metabolite that plays a crucial role in abiotic stress conditions in higher plants. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of GB in alleviating water-deficit stress (in terms of morphological and physiological responses) in two different genotypes of Indian pennywort, "Nakhon Pathom" (NP; high centelloside-yielding genotype) and "Pathum Thani" (PT; low centelloside-yielding genotype). The genotypes of Indian pennywort were propagated by stolon cutting and transplanted into plastic bags containing 2 kg of garden soil. At the flower-initiation stage (30 days after transplantation), uniform plant material was treated exogenously with 0 (control), 25, and 50 mM GB at 100 mL per plant (one-time foliar spray) and then divided into two groups, 1) well watered (WW; irrigated daily with 400 mL fresh water; 98% field capacity) and 2) water deficit (WD; withheld water for 14 days; 72% field capacity). Foliar application of GB (25 mM) significantly improved leaf osmotic potential in NP under WD conditions via osmotic adjustment by free proline and fructose. Differences in leaf temperature (Tleaf) between WD and WW in NP were maximized (+ 1.93 °C) and the gap of Tleaf was reduced in the case of 25-50 mM GB application. Similarly, crop water stress index (CWSI) in NP and PT plants under WD condition was significantly increased by 1.95- and 1.86-fold over the control, respectively; however, it was significantly decreased by exogenous GB application. Increasing Tleaf and CWSI in drought-stressed plants was closely related to stomatal closure, leading to reduced gas exchange parameters, i.e., stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and consequently decreased plant biomass and total centelloside yield. Overall physiological, morphological, and secondary metabolite traits were enhanced in NP under WD conditions using 25 mM GB exogenous application compared with the control. The study highlights the significance of GB in Indian pennywort production under limited water irrigation (water deficit) with higher vegetable yield and phytochemical stabilization.

Total Triterpenes, Polyphenols, Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Activity of Bioactive Phytochemicals of Centella asiatica by Different Extraction Techniques

Obtaining phytochemical-rich plant extracts from natural products where the active ingredients are present in comparatively low levels in the tissue matrix is the critical initial step of any chemical analysis or bioactivity testing. The plant C. asiatica is rich in various phytochemicals, the major constituents being triterpenes and flavonoids, as well as other polyphenols, leading to a number of bioactivities. In this study, an attempt was made to achieve several green technology principles, while optimizing the extraction method for the efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from C. asiatica. Soxhlet extraction (SE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with low-frequency sonication, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) using a closed-vessel microwave digestion system, and subcritical water extraction (SWE) in a high-pressure reactor were employed to extract the bioactive compounds. The solvent system, extraction time, and solid-to-solvent ratio were varied to optimize the extraction. UAE gave the best extraction yield, while MAE gave similar results, with a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:25, a binary solvent system of 9:1 methanol to water (v/v), and a 20 min extraction time for the extraction of triterpenes, including madecassoside, asiaticoside, madicassic acid, and asiatic acid. Investigation of different solvent systems based on water and methanol also revealed information on the extraction behavior of total triterpene content (TTC), total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and the variations in the antioxidant capacity of the extracts. In this study, it was evident that UAE and MAE offer more efficient and effective extraction of bioactive compounds in terms of extraction yield, time, and minimal solvent and energy use. Furthermore, the results showed that the different solvent ratios in the extraction mixture will affect the extraction of bioactive compounds, and a binary solvent system with a combination of methanol and water was the most efficient for the studied compounds in Centella asiatica.

Simultaneous determination of four active compounds in Centella asiatica by supramolecular solvent-based extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In the present study, a new and rapid method for determining four bioactive compounds of Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) in herbs was developed based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS), formed by n-hexanol, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water, was used for extracting madecassoside (MS), asiaticoside (AS), asiatic acid (AA) and madecassic acid (MA) from herbs. The sample was extracted with 4 mL of SUPRAS for 5 min. Then centrifugation was performed for phase separation followed by direct analysis by HPLC-MS/MS. Driving forces for the extraction of herbs in the SUPRAS involved both dispersion and hydrogen bond interactions. The effect of the parameters, including compounds of supramolecular solvents, dosage and vortex time, on the extraction efficiency was investigated. The recoveries were carried out at three levels with spiked samples and in the range of 91.6%-99.9%, with relative standard deviations between 1.7%-7.9%. The novel SUPRAS method, coupled with HPLC-MS/MS, was proved to be efficiency, green, and sensitive. It was applied for determination of four target compounds in herbs.

Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of asiaticoside and madecassoside: A review

Centella asiatica is an ethnomedicinal herbaceous species that grows abundantly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of China, India, South-Eastern Asia and Africa. It is a popular nutraceutical that is employed in various forms of clinical and cosmetic treatments. C. asiatica extracts are reported widely in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine to boost memory, prevent cognitive deficits and improve brain functions. The major bioactive constituents of C. asiatica are the pentacyclic triterpenoid glycosides, asiaticoside and madecassoside, and their corresponding aglycones, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Asiaticoside and madecassoside have been identified as the marker compounds of C. asiatica in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and these triterpene compounds offer a wide range of pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, anti-depressant, anxiolytic, antifibrotic, antibacterial, anti-arthritic, anti-tumour and immunomodulatory activities. Asiaticoside and madecassoside are also used extensively in treating skin abnormalities, burn injuries, ischaemia, ulcers, asthma, lupus, psoriasis and scleroderma. Besides medicinal applications, these phytocompounds are considered cosmetically beneficial for their role in anti-ageing, skin hydration, collagen synthesis, UV protection and curing scars. Existing reports and experimental studies on these compounds between 2005 and 2022 have been selectively reviewed in this article to provide a comprehensive overview of the numerous therapeutic advantages of asiaticoside and madecassoside and their potential roles in the medical future.

Assessment of major centelloside ratios in Centella asiatica accessions grown under identical ecological conditions, bioconversion clues and identification of elite lines

Centellosides viz., asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, madecassoside, are the major bioactive molecules in Centella asiatica. In this study madecassic acid:asiatic acid, madecassoside:asiaticoside (C6-hydroxylation versus non-hydroxylation) and asiaticoside:asiatic acid, madecassoside:madecassic acid (C28-glycoside versus aglycone) ratios in 50 C. asiatica accessions originally collected from their natural habitats in south India and grown under identical ecological conditions for six generations were determined using validated HPTLC-densitometry protocols. Asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside and madecassoside contents ranged from 0.00-0.29% (average 0.03 ± 0.06%; 28 accessions recorded asiatic acid content as zero), 0.02-0.72% (0.12 ± 0.13%), 0.04-2.41% (0.44 ± 0.52%) and 0.15-5.27% (1.59 ± 1.26%), respectively. Distinctly, C6-hydroxylated (madecassic acid:asiatic acid 4.00, madecassoside:asiaticoside 3.61) and C28-glycosylated (asiaticoside:asiatic acid 14.67, madecassoside: madecassic acid 13.25) centellosides dominated over the respective non-derivatized entities. Our results infer that both C6-hydroxylation by CYP450-dependent monooxygenases and C28-glycosylation by UDP-Glc glucosyltransferases are dominant bioconversion steps in C. asiatica. Besides, this study discovered six elite lines of C. asiatica, with their (asiaticoside + madecassoside) contents above the industrial benchmark (≥ 4%) from south India. Two elite clones with asiaticoside contents ≥ 2% were also identified. Standardization of the agrotechniques of these elite lines could lead to their industrial applications. Further, this study emphasizes the need for standardizing all four centellosides as biomarkers in C. asiatica raw drugs, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Ultrasound assisted extraction and quantification of targeted bioactive compounds of Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) by UHPLC-MS/MS MRM tandem mass spectroscopy

Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) is a green leafy vegetable rich in phytochemicals mainly including triterpenes and caffeoylquinic acids. Fresh leaves of this plant are consumed in salads and beverages in a variety of cuisines around the world. This is a well-known functional food for its neuroprotective and cognition enhancing properties in traditional societies. HPLC-DAD at lower wavelengths commonly used to identify and quantify major triterpenes of C. asiatica extracts, but associated with few drawbacks. This paper discusses a specific, sensitive and validated method developed based on UHPLC-ESI-MS-MS-MRM tandem mass spectroscopy for targeted quantification of C. asiatica bioactive compounds. The validated method enabled a precise estimation of major triterpenes and chlorogenic acid in C. asiatica in a shorter time. The findings of this study will contribute to the information on chemotype variation of C. asiatica plant grown under unique geographical, environmental and climatic conditions in New Zealand.

A Validated HPLC-PDA-HRMS Method to Investigate the Biological Stability and Metabolism of Antiparasitic Triterpenic Esters

Pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) are commonly found in medicinal plants with well-known antiparasitic effects. Previous research on C-3 and C-27 triterpenic esters showed effective and selective in vitro antiparasitic activities and in vivo effectiveness by parenteral routes. The aim of this study was to determine triterpenic esters' stability in different biological-like media and the main microsomal degradation products. An HPLC-PDA method was developed and validated to simultaneously analyze and quantify bioactive triterpenic esters in methanol (LOQ: 2.5 and 1.25-100 µg/mL) and plasma (LOQ: 5-125 µg/mL). Overall, both triterpenic esters showed a stable profile in aqueous and buffered solutions as well as in entire plasma, suggesting gaining access to the ester function is difficult for plasma enzymes. Conversely, after 1 h, 30% esters degradation in acidic media was observed with potential different hydrolysis mechanisms. C-3 (15 and 150 µM) and C-27 esters (150 µM) showed a relatively low hepatic microsomal metabolism (<23%) after 1 h, which was significantly higher in the lowest concentration of C-27 esters (15 µM) (>40% degradation). Metabolic HPLC-PDA-HRMS studies suggested hydrolysis, hydroxylation, dehydration, O-methylation, hydroxylation and/or the reduction of hydrolyzed derivatives, depending on the concentration and the position of the ester link. Further permeability and absorption studies are required to better define triterpenic esters pharmacokinetic and specific formulations designed to increase their oral bioavailability.

High-Payload Nanosuspension of Centella asiatica Extract for Improved Skin Delivery with No Irritation

Background

The titrated extract of Centella asiatica (CA) has received much attention as a cosmeceutical ingredient owing to its anti-wrinkle effect. However, due to the low solubility and high molecular weight of pharmacologically active constituents, including asiatic acid (AA), madecassic acid (MA), and asiaticoside (AS), it is challenging to fabricate high-payload topical preparations of CA with satisfactory skin absorption profiles.

Purpose

This study aimed to design a high-payload topical preparation of CA using nanocrystallization technique and to evaluate its skin absorption profile and local tolerability.

Methods

High-payload nanocrystal suspensions (NSs) were prepared using lab-scale bead-milling technology, by adjusting the type and amount of suspending agent, CA content, type of vehicle, and milling speed. CA-loaded NSs were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, crystallinity, and in vitro dissolution pattern. Skin absorption of CA nanocrystals was evaluated using a vertical Franz diffusion cell mounted with porcine skin. In vivo skin irritation following topical application of high-payload NS was assessed in normal rats.

Results

The optimized NS system, composed of 10% (w/v) CA, 0.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K30 as steric stabilizer, and 89.5% of distilled water, was characterized as follows: spherical or elliptical in shape, 200 nm in size, with low crystallinity. The in vitro dissolution of AA or MA from NSs was markedly faster compared to raw material, under sink condition. Penetration of AA, MA, and AS in the porcine skin was markedly elevated using the high-payload NS formula, providing 5-, 4-, and 4.5-fold higher accumulation in skin layer, compared to that of the marketed cream formula (CA 1%, Madeca cream). Moreover, topical application of high-payload NS was tolerable, showing neither erythema nor oedema in normal rats.

Conclusion

The novel NS system is expected to be a virtuous approach for offering a better skin absorption of CA, without using an excess quantity of solubilizers.

Actions and Therapeutic Potential of Madecassoside and Other Major Constituents of Centella asiatica: A Review

Centella asiatica is a popular herb well-known for its wide range of therapeutic effects and its use as a folk medicine for many years. Its therapeutic properties have been well correlated with the presence of asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic and madecassic acids, the pentacyclic triterpenes. The herb has been extensively known to treat skin conditions; nevertheless, several pre-clinical and clinical studies have scientifically demonstrated its effectiveness in other disorders. Among the active constituents that have been identified in Centella asiatica, madecassoside has been the subject of only a relatively small number of scientific reports. Therefore, this review, while including other major constituents of this plant, focuses on the therapeutic potential, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of madecassoside.

Comparative Studies on Different Extraction Methods of Centella asiatica and Extracts Bioactive Compounds Effects on Antimicrobial Activities

The interest of consumers in using products containing phytochemicals derived from plants is growing day by day due to the shift of consumers' preferences from convenience to environmental sustainability. One plant utilized in many products is Centella asiatica, a herb commonly used in folk medicine, health supplements, and beauty products. Extraction of bioactive compounds from C. asiatica was performed using conventional methods and modern methods (e.g., microwave or ultrasound-assisted and subcritical water extraction). This review summarizes the variety of methods used to extract active compounds from C. asiatica, their influence on the bioactive compounds and antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo, and the safety and toxicology of C. asiatica extract.

Optimization, Validation and Application of HPLC-PDA Methods for Quantification of Triterpenoids in Vaccinium vitis-idaea L

Triterpenoids have regained much attention as promising multi-targeting bioactive agents of natural origin in the treatment of numerous disorders. Due to the high potential for phytopharmaceutical development, accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of triterpenoids for screening and quality control is required. Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) raw materials have aroused interest as a rich source of triterpenoids. However, currently, no validated, rapid, and easy-to-perform quantification method is available for the routine control of these compounds in lingonberries. This research aimed at developing and validating HPLC-PDA methods for the determination and screening of triterpenoids in extracts of lingonberry leaves, fruits, and flowers. The developed methods were deemed satisfactory by validation, which revealed acceptable analytical specificity, linearity (r2 > 0.9999), precision (RSD < 2%), trueness (94.70-105.81%), and sensitivity (LOD: 0.08-0.65 µg/mL). The real sample analysis demonstrated established methods applicability for quantification of 13 triterpenoids in lingonberries and emphasized differences between raw materials. Lingonberry fruits were distinguished by the richness of ursolic acid; lingonberry flowers by similar profile to fruits, but low content of neutral triterpenoids; whereas lingonberry leaves by the particularly high level of α-amyrin. Thus, the proposed methods proved to be reliable and applicable for quantification and routine analysis of triterpenoids in lingonberry samples.

Efficacy and safety of a novel water-soluble herbal patch for acne vulgaris treatment: A randomized, assessor-blinds controlled, intra-individual split-face comparative study

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Antibiotics, particularly clindamycin and erythromycin, are used for the treatment of acne vulgaris. However, emerging antibiotic-resistant strains have been an important problem. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency and safety of a novel water-soluble herbal acne patch (WHAP) compared with the hydrocolloid acne patch (HAP) in mild to moderate inflammatory acne patients. The randomized, assessor-blind controlled, intra-individual split-face study was performed on 49 acne patients. The clinical outcomes were evaluated on day 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11 of treatment. It was shown that the median time to resolution of the inflammatory acne treated with WHAP was shorter than HAP with a statistically significant difference (WHAP was 4 days, whereas HAP was 6 days) (P value <.001). Moreover, WHAP had a more significant decrease in the rate of inflammatory diameter, erythema scores (by clinical and colorimetry), and a more increase in the rate of lightness scores (by colorimetry) than HAP (P value <.05). No adverse effects were reported in both groups. It is safe to use WHAP as an alternative treatment for inflammatory acne.

Development of a colorless Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. extract using a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) optimized by response surface methodology

This study outlines a green process for Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (CA) extraction. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were combined to provide a high bioactive compound yield and high antioxidant activity. Among the NADESs evaluated, the combination of acetylcholine chloride : malic acid : water (1 : 2 : 2): water (40 : 60) was the best for extraction. These conditions provide high madecassoside (MS) (21.7 mg g-1 dry weight) and asiaticoside (AS) (12.7 mg g-1 dry weight) yields, with greater than 80% (v/v) EtOH (13.3 mg g-1 MS and 7.80 mg g-1 AS). In addition, the extracts from this process showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.26 mg mL-1) than the CA aqueous EtOH and water extracts. Moreover, the color of the extract products was less green than that of the extracts prepared using EtOH and aqueous EtOH as solvents, which are suitable for cosmeceutical products. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for MAE optimization. The ANOVA data from the central composition design (CCD) of RSM were fitted with quadratic models yielding acceptable R 2 (>0.93), adjusted R 2 (>0.87), predicted R 2 (>0.81), and nonsignificant lack of fit (p  > 0.05) values. The quadratic model was validated using optimal conditions (30 s, power 300 W, and a liquid to solid ratio 20 mL g-1), and the model validation showed more than 80% accuracy in both MS and AS yields. This research presented an effective green process for CA extraction, which resulted in an environmentally friendly CA extract requiring little energy consumption and no organic solvents.

Simultaneous analysis of five triterpenes in Centella asiatica by high performance liquid chromatography with cyclodextrins as the mobile phase additives

Triterpenes are considered the major active components in Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (C. asiatica), such as asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiaticoside B. It is difficult to simultaneously determine five triterpenes because of madecassoside isomers (madecassoside and asiaticoside B), and the great polarity difference between triterpene acid and triterpene glycoside. In this study, a simple high performance liquid chromatography method with isocratic elution employing cyclodextrins (CDs) as the mobile phase additives was developed to determine five triterpenes in C. asiatica. Various factors affecting triterpenes retention in the C18 column, such as the nature of CDs, γ-CD concentration, acetonitrile percentage and temperature, were studied. Experimental results showed that γ-CD, as an effective mobile phase additive, could markedly reduce the retention of triterpenes (especially asiatic acid and madecassic acid), and improve the separation for madecassoside and asiaticoside B. The elution of five triterpenes could be achieved on an ODS C18 column within 30 min using the acetonitrile-0.2% phosphoric acid contained 4.0 mM γ-CD (20:80, v/v) mixture as the mobile phase. The retention modification of triterpenes may be attributed to the formation of the triterpenes-γ-CD inclusion complexes. The optimized method was successfully applied for simultaneous determination of five triterpenes in C. asiatica.

Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability of Asiaticoside, Madecassoside and Asiatic Acid in Porcine Brain Endothelial Cell Model

Neurotherapeutic potentials of Centella asiatica and its reputation to boost memory, prevent cognitive deficits and improve brain functions are widely acknowledged. The plant's bioactive compounds, i.e. asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiatic acid were reported to have central nervous system (CNS) actions, particularly in protecting the brain against neurodegenerative disorders. Hence, it is important for these compounds to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to be clinically effective therapeutics. This study aimed to explore the capability of asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiatic acid to cross the BBB using in vitro BBB model from primary porcine brain endothelial cells (PBECs). Our findings showed that asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiatic acid are highly BBB permeable with apparent permeability (P_app) of 70.61 ± 6.60, 53.31 ± 12.55 and 50.94 ± 10.91 × 10^-6 cm/s respectively. No evidence of cytotoxicity and tight junction disruption of the PBECs were observed in the presence of these compounds. Asiatic acid showed cytoprotective effect towards the PBECs against oxidative stress. This study reported for the first time that Centella asiatica compounds demonstrated high capability to cross the BBB, comparable to central nervous system drugs, and therefore warrant further development as therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Combining In Silico and In Vitro Studies to Evaluate the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Profile of Different Accessions and the Biomarker Triterpenes of Centella asiatica

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most cause of dementia in elderly adults. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important beneficial target for AD to control cholinergic signaling deficit. Centella asiatica (CA) has proven to be rich with active ingredients for memory enhancement. In the present study, the chemical profiling of three accession extracts of CA namely SECA-K017, SECA-K018, and, SECA-K019 were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four biomarker triterpene compounds were detected in all CA accessions. Quantitative analysis reveals that madecassoside was the highest triterpene in all the CA accessions. The biomarker compounds and the ethanolic extracts of three accessions were investigated for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity using Ellman's spectrophotometer method. The inhibitory activity of the triterpenes and accession extracts was compared with the standard AChE inhibitor eserine. The results from the in vitro study showed that the triterpene compounds exhibited an AChE inhibitory activity with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values between 15.05 ± 0.05 and 59.13 ± 0.18 µg/mL. Asiatic acid was found to possess strong AChE inhibitory activity followed by madecassic acid. Among the CA accession extracts, SECA-K017 and SECA-K018 demonstrated a moderate AChE inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 481.5 ± 0.13 and 763.5 ± 0.16 µg/mL, respectively from the in silico docking studies, it is observed that asiatic acid and madecassic acid showed very good interactions with the active sites and fulfilled docking parameters against AChE. The present study suggested that asiatic acid and madecassic acid in the CA accessions could be responsible for the AChE inhibitory action and could be used as markers to guide further studies on CA as potential natural products for the treatment of AD.

Combined Extract of Vitis vinifera L. and Centella asiatica Synergistically Attenuates Oxidative Damage Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Endothelial cell injury caused by oxidative stress is a critical factor in the initial stage of vascular diseases. Thus, identification of more effective antioxidants is a promising strategy to protect against endothelial cell injury. Recently, synergistic effects between phytochemicals have received renewed attention for their role in the treatment of various diseases. Vitis vinifera L. and Centella asiatica are well-known medicinal plants with various biological effects. However, the combination of the two has not previously been studied. Here, we investigated the effects of V. vinifera L. leaf and C. asiatica extract combination (VCEC), a standardized herbal blend comprising V. vinifera L. leaf extract (VE) and C. asiatica extract (CE), for its antioxidant activity and for the protection of endothelial cells against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-mediated oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). VCEC showed higher antioxidant activity than VE or CE in oxygen radical antioxidant capacity assays. In HUVECs, VCEC significantly suppressed increases in the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, decreased levels of nitric oxide and vascular endothelial-cadherin, and increased endothelial hyperpermeability triggered by H₂O₂. Treatment with VE or CE alone ameliorated HUVEC injury in a pattern similar to VCEC, although their effects were significantly weaker than VCEC. Overall, VCEC exhibited a substantial synergistic effect on protecting endothelial cells against oxidative damage through its antioxidant activity. Therefore, VCEC could be developed as a potential agent for reducing the risk of vascular diseases related to oxidative stress.

Inhibitory Effects of Raw-Extract Centella asiatica (RECA) on Acetylcholinesterase, Inflammations, and Oxidative Stress Activities via In Vitro and In Vivo

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) is one of the medicinal plants that has been reported to exert comprehensive neuroprotection in vitro and in vivo. In view of this, the present study was performed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of C. asiatica, designated as raw-extract of C. asiatica (RECA) in reducing the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), inflammations, and oxidative stress activities via both in vitro (SH-SY5Y and RAW 264.7 cells) and in vivo (Sprague Dawley rats). Quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography analysis reveals that RECA contains a significantly high proportion of glycosides than the aglycones with madecassoside as the highest component, followed by asiaticoside. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with RECA significantly reduced the AChE activity in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of 31.09 ± 10.07 µg/mL. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of RECA were evaluated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Our results elucidated that treatment with RECA significantly suppressed the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine/mediators and oxidative stress released in a concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, these patterns of inhibition were consistent as observed in the LPS-induced neuroinflammation Sprague Dawley rats’ model. The highest concentration used in the two models presented the most significant results. Herein, our findings strongly suggest that RECA may offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease through inhibiting the AChE, inflammation, and oxidative stress activities.

Optimization and validation of extraction and quantification methods of antimalarial triterpenic esters in Keetia leucantha plant and plasma

The aim of this study is to develop validated methods for the extraction and quantification of antimalarial triterpene esters from Keetia leucantha and from plasma samples. These compounds, showing in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activities, were optimally extracted from Keetia leucantha twigs using ultrasounds with dichloromethane and from plasma using protein precipitation with acetonitrile. We then developed and validated HPLC-UV quantification methods, which proved to be selective, accurate, linear, true and precise, both in plant and plasma samples for the eight triterpenic esters in mixture. Based on the total error concept as decision criteria, the validated dosage ranges of the triterpene esters mixture were set between 14.68 and 73.37 μg/mL in plants and 15.90 and 106.01 μg/mL in plasma injected solutions, corresponding to 7.95 and 53.01 μg/mL in plasma. These reliable methods were used to determine effectively triterpene esters content in collected samples, that seems highly variable in plant extracts, and will be helpful to further investigate pharmacokinetics parameters of these interesting bioactive compounds.

Antimicrobial Effect of Asiatic Acid Against Clostridium difficile Is Associated With Disruption of Membrane Permeability

Antibiotic resistance is a major concern in Clostridium difficile, the causative agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Reduced susceptibility to first- and second-line agents is widespread, therefore various attempts have been made to seek alternative preventive and therapeutic strategies against this pathogen. In this work, the antimicrobial properties of asiatic acid were evaluated against C. difficile. Asiatic acid displayed substantial inhibitory effects on 19 C. difficile isolates collected from different sources with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 10 to 20 μg/ml. Time kill analysis and minimal bactericidal concentration revealed potential bactericidal activity of this compound. Asiatic acid induced membrane damages and alterations in morphological ultrastructure in C. difficile, thereby causing the leakage of intracellular substances. Moreover, asiatic acid also displayed an inhibitory effect on cell motility, but did not interfere with biofilm formation and spore germination. Analysis of drug combination showed no synergistic effect between asiatic acid and vancomycin/metronidazole. Altogether, asiatic acid exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against vegetative cells and could serve as an alternative resource for tackling C. difficile.

Pharmacological Properties, Molecular Mechanisms, and Pharmaceutical Development of Asiatic Acid: A Pentacyclic Triterpenoid of Therapeutic Promise

Asiatic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring aglycone of ursane type pentacyclic triterpenoids. It is abundantly present in many edible and medicinal plants including Centella asiatica that is a reputed herb in many traditional medicine formulations for wound healing and neuropsychiatric diseases. AA possesses numerous pharmacological activities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and regulates apoptosis that attributes its therapeutic effects in numerous diseases. AA showed potent antihypertensive, nootropic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities in preclinical studies. In various in vitro and in vivo studies, AA found to affect many enzymes, receptors, growth factors, transcription factors, apoptotic proteins, and cell signaling cascades. This review aims to represent the available reports on therapeutic potential and the underlying pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of AA. The review also also discusses the challenges and prospects on the pharmaceutical development of AA such as pharmacokinetics, physicochemical properties, analysis and structural modifications, and drug delivery. AA showed favorable pharmacokinetics and found bioavailable following oral or interaperitoneal administration. The studies demonstrate the polypharmacological properties, therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms of AA in numerous diseases. Taken together the evidences from available studies, AA appears one of the important multitargeted polypharmacological agents of natural origin for further pharmaceutical development and clinical application. Provided the favorable pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy, AA can be a promising agent or adjuvant along with currently used modern medicines with a pharmacological basis of its use in therapeutics.

Differentiation of Three Centella Species in Australia as Inferred from Morphological Characteristics, ISSR Molecular Fingerprinting and Phytochemical Composition

Centella asiatica is one of the popular herbs used for inflammatory and neural conditions. Its differentiation from similar species is currently lacking. The aims of this study were to differentiate the three closely related Centella species using methods based on morphological characters, genetic biodiversity, phytochemical compositions and antioxidant activities. According to the morphological characteristics, the collected samples were identified as three species: C. asiatica, Centella cordifolia and Centella erecta and clustered into three groups based on their morphometric variability. Dendogram constructed on the basis of the intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) analyses were consistent with the morphological grouping. Centella cordifolia had the highest triterpene glycosides, phenolics and antioxidant capacity, followed by C. asiatica, then C. erecta, therefore, was genetically and chemically closer to C. asiatica, while C. erecta was distinctively different from them. The results confirm the occurrence of the closely related three species of Centella in Australia, and the differentiation among them can be achieved via the combination of morphometric, molecular and phytochemical methods. This first comparative botanical study on Centella species provides a foundation for further systematic study and medicinal development of Centella.

Porous microspheres as promising vehicles for the topical delivery of poorly soluble asiaticoside accelerate wound healing and inhibit scar formation in vitro &in vivo

Asiaticoside is a natural compound possessing diverse pharmacological effects with great potential for clinical use. However, the low solubility and oil-water partition coefficient of asiaticoside lead to reduced effect and limited application. This study aims to construct a porous microsphere for the sustained release of asiaticoside to improve its absorption and enhance the therapeutic effects. Parameters of the formulations, including the drug to polymer ratio, solvent amounts of the inner and external phases, the stirring speed for preparation, and the drug entrapment efficiency were investigated and optimized. Particle size, morphology, pores structure, and Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the microsphere were characterized. The release kinetics and cellular uptake profiles of the asiaticoside-microspheres were examined. The therapeutic effects of asiaticoside-microspheres on wound healing and skin appendages regeneration were investigated in vitro & in vivo. Results showed that the optimized asiaticoside-microspheres possess spherical spongy structure with cylindrical holes. Asiaticoside can be loaded in the microsphere with high efficiency and released with sustained manner. The cellular uptake of asiaticoside from the microspheres was increased with 9.1 folds higher than that of free solution. Asiaticoside-microspheres expressed the strong promotion in the proliferation, migration of keratinocytes and wound scratching healing in vitro. More importantly, they significantly accelerated the re-epithelization, collagen synthesis and pro-angiogenesis in the rat full-skin wound healing. Porous microsphere was shown a novel carrier for the sustained delivery of poorly soluble asiaticoside, with absorption and therapeutic effects improved. Asiaticoside-microsphere is a promising topical preparation with excellent regenerative effects for the wound therapy.

Seasonal Variation of Triterpenes and Phenolic Compounds in Australian Centella asiatica (L.) Urb

INTRODUCTION

Specific triterpenes, phenolic acids and flavonoids in Centella asiatica have been found to be bioactive. Harvesting the plant when these putative bioactive compounds are at their highest concentrations would provide consistency in their chemical profile, thus ensuring the quality and efficacy of derived medicinal products.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of harvesting time on the contents of major triterpenoid and phenolic compounds in C. asiatica.

METHODOLOGY

Australian C. asiatica was collected from a designated area in different months. The principal triterpenes (asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid), flavonoid compounds (rutin, quercetin and kaempferol) and chlorogenic acid were quantitatively determined by HPLC-DAD analysis.

RESULTS

Triterpenoid, kaempferol and chlorogenic acid content showed significant variation (p < 0.05) in different collecting months. The total content of the four triterpenes reached its highest levels in January and February (83.15 ± 0.16 mg/g and 78.41 ± 0.16 mg/g, respectively), the summer season of the southern hemisphere, and their lowest values in winter (June) and spring (October) seasons (35.65 ± 0.20 and 35.50 ± 0.55 mg/g, respectively). Similarly, the contents of chlorogenic acid and kaempferol were the highest in December and January (1.62 ± 0.01 and 0.33 ± 0.01 mg/g, respectively), and the lowest in June (0.06 ± 0.01 and 0.09 ± 0.01 mg/g, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that harvesting C. asiatica in summer returns the highest yield of the target triterpenoids, kaempferol and chlorogenic acid.

Centella asiatica extract protects against amyloid β1-40-induced neurotoxicity in neuronal cells by activating the antioxidative defence system

Centella asiatica (雷公根 léi gōng gēn) is a traditional medicinal herb with high antioxidant activity, which decreases amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in the brain. At the same time, aggregated Aβ-induced oxidative stress is the trigger in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated the ability of C. asiatica ethanol extract (CAE) to protect PC12 and IMR32 cells from Aβ_1–40-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and concomitant neurotoxicity. Aggregated Aβ_1–40 treatment resulted in reduced cell viability, which can be reversed by cotreatment with 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL CAE. Moreover, CAE eliminated the Aβ_1–40-mediated increase in ROS production. Thus, CAE-mediated protection against aggregated Aβ_1–40-induced neurotoxicity is attributable to modulation of the antioxidative defense system in cells, including the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and levels of glutathione and glutathione disulfide by CAE. This emphasizes the potential therapeutic and preventive value of CAE in the treatment of AD.

Protective effect of centella triterpene saponins against cyclophosphamide-induced immune and hepatic system dysfunction in rats: its possible mechanisms of action

This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of the centella triterpene saponins (EXT) on cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced hepatotoxicity and immunosuppression in rats. The phytochemical profile of EXT was analyzed for centella saponins by using high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC). Therapeutic efficacy of EXT (250 mg/kg/day p.o) on hematological profile of blood, liver function markers, and cytokine profiles in CYP (10 mg/kg/day p.o)-treated rats. In addition, weights of immune organs (spleen and thymus) and histopathological changes in the liver, intestine, and spleen were also evaluated. The active principles in EXT were identified as madecassoside, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid by HPLC analysis. Upon administration of EXT, enhanced levels of glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lipid peroxidation were found reduced while the levels of reduced glutathione and hematological parameters and relative weights of immune organs were restored to normal in CYP-treated rats. The hepatic mRNA level of TNF-α, which was increased during CYP administration, was significantly decreased by the EXT treatment. The decreased levels of mRNA expression of other cytokines like IFN-γ, IL-2, GM-CSF, after CYP treatment, were also found elevated upon administration of the EXT. Histopathological examination of the intestine, liver, and spleen indicated that the extract could attenuate the CYP-induced hepatic and immune organ damage. These results indicated that EXT modulated the immune and hepatic system function of rats against CYP-induced immunosuppression and hepatotoxicity by restoring the cytokine production, antioxidant system, and multiorgan injury. Thus, triterpene saponins may provide protective and/or therapeutic alternative against the immune-mediated liver diseases.

Centella asiatica and Its Fractions Reduces Lipid Peroxidation Induced by Quinolinic Acid and Sodium Nitroprusside in Rat Brain Regions

Oxidative stress has been implicated in several pathologies including neurological disorders. Centella asiatica is a popular medicinal plant which has long been used to treat neurological disturbances in Ayurvedic medicine. In the present study, we quantified of compounds by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and examined the phenolic content of infusion, ethyl acetate, n-butanolic and dichloromethane fractions. Furthermore, we analyzed the ability of the extracts from C. asiatica to scavenge the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) radical as well as total antioxidant activity through the reduction of molybdenum (VI) (Mo(6+)) to molybdenum (V) (Mo(5+)). Finally, we examined the antioxidant effect of extracts against oxidant agents, quinolinic acid (QA) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on homogenates of different brain regions (cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus). The HPLC analysis revealed that flavonoids, triterpene glycoside, tannins, phenolic acids were present in the extracts of C. asiatica and also the phenolic content assay demonstrated that ethyl acetate fraction is rich in these compounds. Besides, the ethyl acetate fraction presented the highest antioxidant effect by decreasing the lipid peroxidation in brain regions induced by QA. On the other hand, when the pro-oxidant agent was SNP, the potency of infusion, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions was equivalent. Ethyl acetate fraction from C. asiatica also protected against thiol oxidation induced by SNP and QA. Thus, the therapeutic potential of C. asiatica in neurological diseases could be associated to its antioxidant activity.

Biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic characterization of asiatic acid in Centella asiatica as determined by a sensitive and robust HPLC-MS method

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Asiatic acid is one of the main components in the herb Centella asiatica, which is a well-known herbal medicine for its excellent pharmacological effects. To enhance the development potentials of asiatic acid as a chemopreventative agent, there is a great need to further understand its biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic properties. The aim of this research is to clarify the mechanisms of absorption and metabolism of asiatic acid, and explore its biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic properties in rats by using a sensitive and robust HPLC-MS method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 2 groups and administered with asiatic acid by oral and intravenous administration. Plasma concentrations of asiatic acid were determined at designated points and main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. The absorption of asiatic acid was investigated by using Caco-2 cell line absorption model in vitro and rat intestinal perfusion model in situ. The metabolic rate of asiatic acid was investigated by incubating it in rat liver microsome system in vitro. In addition, the solubility of asiatic acid in aqueous solution was also determined by using HPLC-MS method.

RESULTS

The absolute oral bioavailability of asiatic acid is 16.25%. It was found that the permeability of asiatic acid is more than 10(-5) in the Caco-2 cell monolayer and rat intestinal perfusion model, and its main absorption region is the jejunum in rats. The metabolic rate of asiatic acid in rat liver microsomes, t1/2, is 9.493min, which shows that asiatic acid can be metabolized rapidly. The solubility of aisiatic acid was 0.1583mgmL(-1), and its poor solubility will result in low bioavailability.

CONCLUSIONS

The asiatic acid in a variety of matrixes was analyzed by using a sensitive and specific HPLC-MS method, and its absolute oral bioavailability in rats was very low. Asiatic acid can be metabolized rapidly in rat liver microsomes, and has good permeability across Caco-2 monolayer cell and rat intestine perfusion. It can be deduced that the low bioavailability of asiatic acid results from poor solubility and rapid metabolism.

Development and validation of an UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS method for non-anthocyanin flavonoids quantification in Euterpe oleracea juice

Euterpe oleracea fruits have gained much attention because of their phenolic constituents that have shown potential health benefits. The aim of this work was to quantify the major non-anthocyanin flavonoids (NAF) in the fruit juice by an accurate method coupling ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography with a linear ion trap-high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry system (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS). Fruits were processed to juice, and then the juice was lyophilized and defatted. The residue was then extracted in the presence of methanol by sonication. The extraction time was optimized and recovery rates of the extraction were >90%. The extracts were dried and solubilized again in 40% MeOH, which showed the best compromise for MS detection. For the UHPLC quantification, a HSS C18 column (1.8 μm) was used with a gradient elution of methanol and water both with 0.1% formic acid. Total error and accuracy profiles were used as validation criteria. Seven compounds and their isomers were successfully separated, including the major NAF. Calibration in the matrix was found to be more accurate than calibration without matrix. Trueness (<15% relative bias), repeatability, and intermediate precision (<13% RSD), selectivity, response function, linearity, LOD (ranged from 0.04 to 0.81 μg/mL) and LOQ (0.15-5.78 μg/mL) for 12 compounds were evaluated and the quantification method was validated. Its applicability was demonstrated on real samples from different suppliers. Their qualitative and quantitative profiles were similar and some compounds were for the first time quantified. In addition, eriodictyol was identified for the first time in this fruit along with five other flavonoids for which possible structures were proposed.

Centelloside accumulation in leaves of Centella asiatica is determined by resource partitioning between primary and secondary metabolism while influenced by supply levels of either nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium

In the present study we aimed to investigate the relevance of either N, P or K supply for herb and leaf yield and for centelloside concentrations in Centella asiatica L. Urban leaves. In this regard, we elucidated the causal relationship between assimilation rate, leaf N, P and K concentrations, herb and leaf production, and centelloside accumulation. The experiments were conducted consecutively in a greenhouse where C. asiatica was grown in hydroponic culture and fertigated with nutrient solutions at either 0, 30, 60, 100 or 150% of the N, P or K amount in a standard Hoagland solution. In general, the increase in N, P or K supply enhanced assimilation rate and herb and leaf yield. However, exceeding specific thresholds, the high availability of one single nutrient caused lower leaf N concentrations and a decline in assimilation rate and plant growth. Irrespective of N, P and K supply, the leaf centelloside concentrations were negatively associated with herb and leaf yield, which is in accordance with the assumptions of the carbon/nutrient balance and the growth differentiation balance hypotheses. Moreover, we found strong negative correlations between saponins and leaf N concentrations, while the respective sapogenins were negatively correlated with K concentrations. Using C. asiatica as model system, our experiments reveal for the first time that the accumulation of saponins and sapogenins is affected by resource allocation between primary and secondary metabolism and that besides carbon, also nutrient availability is relevant for the regulation of the centelloside synthesis. Finally, our results highlight the huge potential of optimized and carefully controlled mineral nutrition of medicinal plants for steering the bio-production of high-quality natural products.

Production of polyclonal antibody against madecassoside and development of immunoassay methods for analysis of triterpene glycosides in Centella asiatica

INTRODUCTION

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban consists of two major triterpene glycosides, asiaticoside (AS) and madecassoside (MA), as active components used for wound healing and enhancing memory.

OBJECTIVE

To produce a polyclonal antibody against madecassoside (MA-PAb) and develop enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Eastern blotting methods for quantitative analysis of triterpene glycosides in Centella asiatica.

METHODS

An ELISA method was developed using polyclonal antibody against MA. An Eastern blotting method on the PES membrane was established for determination of MA and AS. The immunoassays were validated for sensitivity, precision, specificity and accuracy.

RESULTS

The prepared MA-PAb shows specificity to MA and AS. The measuring range of triterpene glycosides was 0.39-50 µg/mL using the ELISA method. An Eastern blotting method was developed for determining individual MA and AS, which could be detected in the range of 62.5-500 ng. The limit of detection for MA and AS was 31.25 ng. The two methods developed showed good specificity, precision, and accuracy, and also correlated with high-performance liquid chromatography.

CONCLUSION

These immunoassays have several advantages that include high sensitivity as well as being rapid and facile for determination of the triterpene glycosides in C. asiatica.

A rapid validated UHPLC-PDA method for anthocyanins quantification from Euterpe oleracea fruits

The aim of this work is to develop the first validated UHPLC-PDA method for major anthocyanins quantification in Euterpe oleracea fruits after fast extraction procedures and samples preparation. The separation was performed on HSS C18 column (1.8 μm) using a gradient elution with acetonitrile and 5% formic acid in a total run time of only 17 min. Total error and accuracy profiles were used as criteria for the validation process. Calibration in the matrix was found to be more accurate than calibration without matrix. Trueness (<6.76% relative bias), repeatability (<4.6% RSD), intermediate precision (<5.3% RSD), selectivity, response function and linearity for major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, were evaluated. The concentration range validated was 1-48 μg/mL for both compounds. In addition two cyanidin-di-O-glycosides were detected for the fist time in this fruit. We also showed that a first extraction of the fruits with ethyl acetate removes the lipophilic compounds and allows an easier extraction by methanol and quantification of anthocyanins in this extract.

Factors affecting the content of pentacyclic triterpenes in Centella asiatica raw materials

CONTEXT

Pentacyclic triterpenes, mainly, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and madecassoside are the active constituents of Centella asitica (L.) Urban. (Apiaceae). These compounds possess various pharmacological activities that have been shown to assist with wound healing and brain enrichment.

OBJECTIVE

Determination of these active pentacyclic triterpenes in extracts from the various parts of C. asiatica plants harvested at different times of the year and grown in different environments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The separate plant parts selected were leaves, stolons, petioles, flowers, fruits, and nodes with roots. Dried powder from each part was extracted with ethanol by microwave-assisted extraction and subjected to determination of their content of the four pentacyclic triterpenes using a HPLC method. The effects of the places of cultivation as well as harvesting periods on the content of the four pentacyclic triterpenes in the extracts were also determined.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Among the various parts of C. asiatica, the leaves contained the highest amount of pentacyclic triterpenes with a total content of pentacyclic triterpenes of 19.5 mg/g dry powder. However, the contents of the pentacyclic triterpenes in C. asiatica varied according to the place of cultivation and the harvesting period. C. asiatica collected from Trang, Thailand gave the highest content of total pentacyclic triterpenes (37.2 mg/g dry powder) when harvested in March, while those collected from Songkhla, Thailand gave the highest value (37.4 mg/g dry powder) when collected in December. C. asiatica collected from Nakornsrithammarat and Ratchaburi, Thailand gave the lowest content of total pentacyclic triterpenes in all experimental harvesting periods.

Flexibility and applicability of β-expectation tolerance interval approach to assess the fitness of purpose of pharmaceutical analytical methods

An innovative versatile strategy using Total Error has been proposed to decide about the method's validity that controls the risk of accepting an unsuitable assay together with the ability to predict the reliability of future results. This strategy is based on the simultaneous combination of systematic (bias) and random (imprecision) error of analytical methods. Using validation standards, both types of error are combined through the use of a prediction interval or β-expectation tolerance interval. Finally, an accuracy profile is built by connecting, on one hand all the upper tolerance limits, and on the other hand all the lower tolerance limits. This profile combined with pre-specified acceptance limits allows the evaluation of the validity of any quantitative analytical method and thus their fitness for their intended purpose. In this work, the approach of accuracy profile was evaluated on several types of analytical methods encountered in the pharmaceutical industrial field and also covering different pharmaceutical matrices. The four studied examples depicted the flexibility and applicability of this approach for different matrices ranging from tablets to syrups, different techniques such as liquid chromatography, or UV spectrophotometry, and for different categories of assays commonly encountered in the pharmaceutical industry i.e. content assays, dissolution assays, and quantitative impurity assays. The accuracy profile approach assesses the fitness of purpose of these methods for their future routine application. It also allows the selection of the most suitable calibration curve, the adequate evaluation of a potential matrix effect and propose efficient solution and the correct definition of the limits of quantification of the studied analytical procedures.