HPTLC determination of chemical composition variability in raw materials used in botanicals

A comprehensive analysis of phytochemicals, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and phytoestrogenic properties of different parts of Tribulus terrestris

Tribulus terrestris L., a medicinal plant rich in secondary metabolites, was studied for optimising bioactive compound extraction from various parts of the plant using ethanol-water (50:50), ethanol, and methanol solvents. Analysis of extracts for key phytochemicals like polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids was performed using HPTLC, HPLC and gas chromatography. The ethanol-water mixture proved best for extracting saponins and polyphenols, ethanol for flavonoids, and methanol for alkaloids. The fruit yielded the highest saponin content (59.34% ± 3.87), while leaves were richest in polyphenols (18.94% ± 1.39), flavonoids (5.15% ± 1.01), and alkaloids (26.46% ± 1.71). Leaf extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa, and stem extracts were effective against E. coli. Root, stem, and leaf extracts exhibited antifungal activity with leaf extract also demonstrating strong phytoestrogenic activity. These findings highlight the varied phytochemical profiles and biological activities of T. terrestris, suggesting their potential therapeutic uses.

HPTLC method to support formulation development and quality control of the tablets prepared from fruit extracts of Piper longum

Alcoholic extract of fruits of Piper longum is reported to have antihypertensive activity, significantly due to presence of alkaloids like piperine, piperlongumine, piperlonguminine and pipernonaline. A sensitive and specific HPTLC method was developed and validated for simultaneous estimation of piperine, piperlongumine and piperlonguminine in fruit extracts with a purpose to provide the analytical support during the development of formulation as well as to serve as a quality control tool for optimised formulation. Developed method was validated with respect to ICH (International Council for Harmonisation) Q2(R1) and found to be accurate, precise, sensitive, specific and robust for estimation of piperine, piperlongumine and piperlonguminine. Method was successfully applied for assay of dry powdered extract and optimised tablet formulation in terms of content of piperine, piperlongumine and piperlonguminine as well as to study the dissolution profiles of formulation batches during development stage.

Comparative HPTLC analysis of shatavarin IV, sarsasapogenin, caffeic acid, β-sitosterol and lupeol in roots and cladodes of ten Asparagus L. ssp. from North India

In the present research, ten species of Asparagus from North India have been analysed for secondary metabolites. The quantitative study of shatavarin IV, sarsasapogenin, caffeic acid, β-sitosterol, and lupeol in the cladodes and roots of Asparagus was conducted using a validated HPTLC method. The content of sarsasapogenin was found highest in the cladodes of A. racemosus (11.20 ± 0.025 mg/g DW) and roots of A. officinalis (5.95 ± 0.024 mg/g DW). Shatavarin IV was found highest in cladodes of A. densiflorus (6.72 ± 0.02 mg/g DW) and roots of A. adscendens (4.68 ± 0.015 mg/g DW). Caffeic acid was found most abundantly in A. officinalis (65.87 ± 0.021 mg/g DW), while β-sitosterol (9.36 ± 0.004 mg/g DW) and lupeol (5.91 ± 0.004 mg/g DW) were found highest in A. falcatus among the ten species. Overall findings showed that A. adscendens, A. densiflorus, A. falcatus and A. retrofractus have also rich quantity of examined secondary metabolites as compared to commercially important species (A. officinalis).

Impact of seasonal variation on four labdane-type diterpenoids in Coleus forskholii Briq

The present study has been planned to evaluate the impact of seasonal variation in labdane-type diterpenoids namely isoforskolin, forskolin, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin and 1-deoxyforskolin in Coleus forskholii (roots). The plant samples were harvested in different seasons from our experimental field located at CSIR-NBRI garden, Lucknow (India) and metabolite contents were estimated through validated high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method. The HPTLC plate was developed in tertiary mobile phase of toluene-ethyl acetate-methanol (8.5-1-0.05 v/v) for separation of all the four metabolites. The metabolite content viz. isoforskolin, forskolin, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin and 1-deoxyforskolin varies from 0.0247% to 0.198%, 0.238 to 0.730%, 0.056 to 0.161% and 0.0401 to 0.332% on dry weight basis respectively. The maximum content of metabolites was recorded in winter season and was found optimum for harvesting of C. forskholii roots. Optimization of harvesting season for this industrially valuable medicinal plant will lead to sustainable sources of good quality raw material to herbal drug industry.

Establishment of callus cultures and quantification of Caffeic acid using HPTLC from Desmodium gangeticum (L.)

Desmodium gangeticum (L.) belonging to family Fabaceae is an economically important medicinal plant which isutilised in Dashmoolarishta. Various bioactive compounds have been isolated from whole plant and roots, and one of them is an important phenolic compound - caffeic acid (CA). This phenolic acid and its derivatives have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and hepatocarcinoma, a highly aggressive and causing considerable mortality across the world. In the present study, leaf explants were placed on MS medium fortified with different concentration of cytokinin (BA/Kn) and auxin (IAA/NAA) for establishing callus cultures. MS medium fortified with BA (20 µM) and IAA (2 µM) was optimised for the same. Methanolic extracts of in vivo leaf sample (DG1) and in vitro sample (leaf derived callus) (DG2) were assessed for CA quantification using HPTLC. Thus, the chemical fingerprint that was obtained, confirmed that DG 2 of D. gangeticum exhibited the potency to synthesise more amount of CA (316 ± 7.5 µg/g DW) in comparison to DG1 which was 194 ± 2.3 µg/g DW.

A high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the quality assessment of agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) oil from Northeast India

The high-value agarwood oil, largely used in perfumery is generally graded by the traditional method of sensorial assessment. The compositional complexity and variation made its quality control challenging. Besides, non-volatile contaminants and adulterants are the bottlenecks in gas-chromatographic detection. Herein, a HPTLC based technique was developed for the quality assessment of agarwood oil from Northeast India. A 'marker band' (anisylacetone and oxygenated sesquiterpene rich) on HPTLC profile, containing major peaks of the oil and characteristic agarwood aroma was quantified to assess the quality. The developed method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, sensitivity, recovery and precision. The application of the method in test samples of three different grades indicated a positive correlation between 'marker band' quantity and oil quality. Its abundance in the superior grade oil was >50% and <20% in poor grade. It can be an efficient analytical tool for the quality assessment and grading of agarwood oil.

Phytochemical investigation of Nigella sativa seed extract by HPTLC, HPLC and GC-MS: a comparative geographical study

This study aimed to ensure the quality of the seed as well as determine the phytochemical composition of Nigella sativa seed extract (NSSE) obtained from three different geographical locations. Pharmacognostic evaluation of the seed includes preliminary phytochemical screening, physicochemical evaluation, and study of heavy metal content, in addition to HPTLC, HPLC, and GC-MS studies of the extract obtained from the seed of the Nigella sativa (NS). HPTLC fingerprinting studies revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds. HPLC analysis confirms the quantitative variation of thymoquinone (TQ) in the extracts, i.e. the maximum quantity of TQ was found in Vizag NSSE, followed by Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. GC-MS analysis reveals the presence of 33, 35, and 32 constituents in the extract obtained from Vizag, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab, respectively. This study confirms the variation in the phytochemical composition as well as in the biomarker (Thymoquinone) content present in the collected samples.

Quality control methods for fruit extracts of Kigelia africana using high performance thin layer chromatography

Kigelia africana is a tree native to Africa but also found in eastern and southern parts of India with reported anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. Verbascoside, caffeic acid and ferulic acid are important markers for the quality control of the plant. Two different HPTLC methods were developed and validated; method - 1 for estimation of verbascoside and caffeic acid while method - 2 for estimation of caffeic acid and ferulic acid. Developed methods were applied to the methanolic fruit extract to determine the quantities of markers. Both methods were found to be linear, specific, precise, accurate, sensitive and robust. Results indicated that both methods can be used for quantitative determination of verbascoside, caffeic acid and ferulic acid in fruit extract. The developed methods may be utilised as a part of the quality control and standardisation for the raw material and extracts of Kigelia africana and can also aid to chromatographic fingerprinting of the plant.

N-Methylneolitsine as a new and potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor of Cissampelos pareira Linn. aerial parts: bioassay-guided isolation and quantitative densitometric analysis

The rising geriatric population is expected to increase the demand for drugs treating neurodegenerative diseases. The present work is aimed to discover acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors from Cissampelos pareira Linn. aerial parts (Family: Menispermaceae). Bioassay-guided isolation, AChE inhibition study and estimation of the therapeutic marker in different parts of raw herbs were conducted. The structure of the compound (1) was elucidated as N-methylneolitsine by using NMR (1D and 2D) and ESI-MS/MS spectral data, which is a new natural analogue of neolitsine. It showed good AChE inhibition with an IC50 value of 12.32 µg/mL. It was densitometrically estimated to be 0.074 - 0.33% in aerial parts of C. pareira, collected from various locations. The alkaloid reported here could be potentially useful for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases and the aerial part of C. pareira could be used as a promising ingredient for various preparations treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Identification of authentic Phyllanthus amarus species in India

The Phyllanthus is a plant used in the traditional Ayurvedic Medicine system and has more than 800 species. These species grow in the same area and there are chances of adulteration of other species and, incorrect identification may also lead to wrong reports. This study was attempted by Enovate Biolife Pvt. Ltd. to identify authentic Phyllanthus amarus. The nine raw material samples were collected from different populations/suppliers from various zones of India for the study. All the samples were analysed using microscopic and macroscopic ID, and by using the High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint method. The samples collected from the Central zone (Lucknow PA-08, Uttar Pradesh) and the Southern zone (Coimbatore PA-05, and Chennai PA-09, Tamil Nadu) of India were found to be authentic P. amarus by the mentioned identification methods.

Evaluation of chemical compositions and biological activities of Dendrobium species

Dendrobium spp. were investigated for their chemical compositions with HPTLC/CMS, and biological properties, including antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS.+ assay), and anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The ethanolic extracts of Dendrobium orchid pseudobulbs (D. chrysotoxum; DC, D. fimbriatum; DF, D. lindleyi; DL, and D. pulchellum; DP) were found to contain caffeic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, rutin hydrate and vanillin. While luteolin was shown in D. fimbriatum and D. lindleyi extracts. D. lindleyi, and D. pulchellum extracts presented the high value of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, resulting in a strong antioxidant property. Moreover, D. chrysotoxum extract expressed AChE inhibitory potential. This research indicated that chemical compounds in Dendrobium would be involved with their biological properties, i.e. antioxidant and anti-AChE. This information can be used to support further in-depth research and product development in health, food, and pharmaceutical.

Novel extraction technique: quantification of major phytoconstituents of arjuna in infused edible oil

A rapid, precise, accurate, and cost-effective liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer method was developed by using a novel extraction technique for the simultaneous quantification of major oleane derivatives: arjunetin, arjungenin, arjunolic acid, and arjunic acid of Terminalia arjuna in infused edible oil. An innovative idea was implemented to extract the active phytoconstituents from the oil matrix based on the freezing point of oils and extraction solvent. The developed method was validated for all four active compounds in the linear working range of 0.47-1.72 µg/mL, 0.845-2.93 µg/mL, 1.73-5.95 µg/mL and 0.62-2.22  µg/mL with good correlations value (r2) more than 0.99 for arjunetin, arjungenin, arjunolic acid, and arjunetin, respectively. Furthermore, the HPTLC method was also developed for the quick identification of all four active markers along with other phytoconstituents infused in oil.

Evaluation of Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr. stem extracts for urolithiasis and quantification of bioactive alkaloids to validate the traditional claims

Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr. is widely used for urinary disorders and kidney stones by ethnic communities in southern India. The species is documented in various ancient Indian Ayurvedic literatures having therapeutic use in 'Ashmari' i.e., urolithiasis. The present study aims at validation of in-vitro anti-urolithiatic potential of various extracts of C. fenestratum stem along with identification and quantification of major bioactive alkaloids, i.e., berberine and palmatine through HPTLC and LC-MS/MS. Water extract showed maximum anti-urolithiatic activity which on further kinetic analysis, showed concentration dependent inhibitory delay in nucleation and aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals. Berberine and palmatine were quantified with maximum content in methanolic extract (0.478 ± 0.003 and 0.0358 ± 0.001) followed by chloroform and petroleum ether extracts. The study validates ethnobotanical use of C. fenestratum as anti-urolithiatic agent. Further, species can also be explored as a substitute for Berberis spp. for the alkaloid metabolites i.e., berberine and palmatine.

The African cherry: A review of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae), commonly known as "Pygeum" or "African cherry", occurs in mainland montane forests scattered across sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and some surrounding islands. Traditionally, decoctions of the stem-bark are taken orally for the treatment of a wide variety of conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), stomach ache, chest pain, malaria, heart conditions, and gonorrhoea, as well as urinary and kidney diseases. The timber is used to make axe handles and for other household needs. The dense wood is also sawn for timber.

AIM

The fragmented information available on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and biological activities of the medicinally important P. africana was collated, organised, and analysed in this review, to highlight knowledge voids that can be addressed through future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A bibliometric analysis of research output on P. africana was conducted on literature retrieved, using the Scopus® database. The trend in the publications over time was assessed and a network analysis of collaborations between countries and authors was carried out. Furthermore, a detailed review of the literature over the period 1971 to 2021, acquired through Scopus, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Pubmed, Scirp, DOAJ and Google Scholar, was conducted. All relevant abstracts, full-text articles and various book chapters on the botanical and ethnopharmacological aspects of P. africana, written in English and German, were consulted.

RESULTS

A total of 455 documents published from 1971 to 2021, were retrieved using the Scopus search. Analysis of the data showed that the majority of these documents were original research articles, followed by reviews and lastly a miscellaneous group comprising conference papers, book chapters, short surveys, editorials and letters. Data were analysed for annual output and areas of intense research focus, and countries with high research output, productive institutions and authors, and collaborative networks were identified. Prunus africana is reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antiviral, antimutagenic, anti-asthmatic, anti-androgenic, antiproliferative and apoptotic activities amongst others. Phytosterols and other secondary metabolites such as phenols, triterpenes, fatty acids, and linear alcohols have been the focus of phytochemical investigations. The biological activity has largely been ascribed to the phytosterols (mainly 3-β-sitosterol, 3-β-sitostenone, and 3-β-sitosterol-glucoside), which inhibit the production of prostaglandins in the prostate, thereby suppressing the inflammatory symptoms associated with BPH and chronic prostatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Many of the ethnobotanical assertions for the biological activity of P. africana have been confirmed through in vitro and in vivo studies. However, a disparity exists between the biological activity of the whole extract and that of single compounds isolated from the extract, which were reported to be less effective. This finding suggests that a different approach to biological activity studies should be encouraged that takes all secondary metabolites present into consideration. A robust technique, such as multivariate biochemometric data analysis, which allows for a holistic intervention to study the biological activity of a species is suggested. Furthermore, there is a need to develop rapid and efficient quality control methods for both raw materials and products to replace the time-consuming and laborious methods currently in use.

Characterization of essential oils and volatiles from the aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) using microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) in combination with GC-MS

Herein, the chemical profiles of the essential oils and volatiles obtained from the aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) are reported respectively using microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) approaches associated to gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) quantification. Using MAHD-GC-MS and HS-SPME-GC-MS techniques, 30 and 28 constituents were screened in the essential oils and volatiles of M. pulegium L. aerial parts with high prevalence of oxygenated monoterpenes and non-terpene hydrocarbons, respectively. Accordingly, in the characterized chemical profiles, carvone was found to constitute about 56.0% of the oil using the former technique (MAHD), whereas oleic acid (20.1%), carvone (17.7%) along with limonene (16.1%) were found as the major constituent components of the volatile profile using the latter approach (SPME). The two methods might be used in combination to obtain a wider set of information about the chemical composition of one specific plant sample.

Comparison of techniques for the extraction of Camptothecin from Tabernaemontana species

Extraction methods like maceration, ultrasonication, vortex mixer, soxhlet extraction and microwave assisted extraction (MAE), were evaluated for the extraction of Camptothecin (CPT) from the leaves and stem of Tabernaemontana alternifolia, Tabernaemontana divaricata and Tabernaemontana citrifolia. The extracts were analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The results show that the leaves of Tabernaemontana alternifolia exhibited highest yield of CPT as compared to the other species. MAE was the most efficient extraction method with CPT extraction yield of 0.154 ± 0.004% w/w from Tabernaemontana alternifolia leaves followed by Soxhlet extraction, sonication, maceration, and vortex extraction methods.

Elicitor mediated enhancement of shoot biomass and lupeol production in Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. ex. Schult. and Tylophora indica (Burm. F.) Merrill using yeast extract and salicylic acid

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. ex Schult. and Tylophora indica (Burm. F.) Merrill shoot cultures were treated with different concentrations of yeast extract (YE; 25-200 mg/L) and salicylic acid (SA; 50-200 µM), and their effect on lupeol production was assessed. The maximum dry weight (DW) biomass was recorded when H. indicus shoots were treated with SA (50 µM) and T. indica shoots with YE (200 mg/L). Highest lupeol yield (335.40 ± 0.04 µg/g DW) was obtained in H. indicus shoots after treatment with 50 µM of SA for 3 weeks. Whereas in T. indica, maximum lupeol content (584.26 ± 8.14 µg/g DW) was recorded by giving treatment with 25 μM of SA for 6 weeks.

Bichromonol, a dimeric coumarin with anti-HIV activity from the stem bark of Hypericum roeperianum

Infectious diseases caused by viruses like HIV and SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pose serious public health threats. In search for new antiviral small molecules from chemically underexplored Hypericum species, a previously undescribed atropisomeric C8-C8' linked dimeric coumarin named bichromonol (1) was isolated from the stem bark of Hypericum roeperianum. The structure was elucidated by MS data and NMR spectroscopy. The absolute configuration at the biaryl axis was determined by comparing the experimental ECD spectrum with those calculated for the respective atropisomers. Bichromonol was tested in cell-based assays for cytotoxicity against MT-4 (CC₅₀ = 54 µM) cells and anti-HIV activity in infected MT-4 cells. It exhibits significant activity at EC₅₀ = 6.6-12.0 µM against HIV-1 wild type and its clinically relevant mutant strains. Especially, against the resistant variants A17 and EFV^R, bichromonol is more effective than the commercial drug nevirapine and might thus have potential to serve as a new anti-HIV lead.

Determination of Colchicine in Pharmaceutical Formulations, Traditional Extracts, and Ultrasonication-Based Extracts of Colchicum autumnale Pleniflorum (L.) Using Regular and Greener HPTLC Approaches: A Comparative Evaluation of Validation Parameters

In the literature, there is a scarcity of greener analytical approaches for colchicine (CLH) analysis. As a result, efforts were made in this study to develop and validate a greener reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique for CLH analysis in traditional extracts (TE) and ultrasonication-based extracts (UBE) of commercial Unani formulations, commercial allopathic formulations, and Colchicum autumnale Pleniflorum (L.) obtained from Egypt and India. This new technique was compared to the regular normal-phase HPTLC method. The greenness profile of both methods was estimated using the Analytical GREENness (AGREE) approach. In the 100–600 and 25–1200 ng/band ranges, regular and greener HPTLC procedures were linear for CLH analysis, respectively. For CLH analysis, the greener HPTLC method was more sensitive, accurate, precise, and robust than the regular HPTLC method. For CLH analysis in TE and UBE of commercial Unani formulations, commercial allopathic formulations, and C. autumnale obtained from Egypt and India, the greener HPTLC method was superior in terms of CLH content compared to the regular HPTLC method. In addition, the UBE procedure was superior to the TE procedure for both methods. The AGREE scores for regular and greener reversed-phase HPTLC methods were found to be 0.46 and 0.75, respectively. The AGREE results showed excellent greener profile of the greener HPTLC method over the regular HPTLC technique. Based on several validation criteria and pharmaceutical assay findings, the greener HPTLC method is regarded as superior to the regular HPTLC approach.

Phytochemical analysis on the aerial parts of Teucrium capitatum L. with aspects of chemosystematics and ethnobotany

The phytochemical analysis on the aerial parts of Teucrium capitatum L. collected from a new population in Central Italy, led to the identification of eight compounds, i.e. pheophytin a (1), poliumoside (2), apigenin (3), luteolin (4), cirsimaritin (5), cirsiliol (6), 8-O-acetyl-harpagide (7) and teucardoside (8) belonging to four different classes of secondary metabolites. Pheophytin a (1) represents a newly identified compound in the genus whereas compounds (7-8) are newly identified compound in the species. The chemotaxonomic and ethnobotanical aspects relative to the presence of these compounds were widely discussed suggesting important conclusions for both.

Development of new and validated HPTLC methods for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of hyperforin, hypericin and hyperoside contents in Hypericum species

PURPOSE

Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort) is a medicinally important member of Hypericaceae. Many pharmacological activities have been mostly attributed to its hyperforin, hypericin and/or hyperoside contents. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative determinations of these ingredients are essential to justify the beneficial effects of St. John's wort on health. In the European Pharmacopoeia, the TLC and HPLC methods were given for this purpose. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) has recently become increasingly used as a suitable technique for analysing herbal drugs. This study aims to develop new and validated HPTLC methods to analyse these active components in different Hypericum spp. to find other suitable species to replace the official plant.

METHODS

Three different mobile phases were developed: n-hexane-ethyl acetate (8:2) for hyperforin analysis, toluene-chloroform-ethyl acetate-formic acid (8:5:3.5:0.6) for hypericin analysis and ethyl acetate-formic acid-acetic acid-water (15:2:2:1) for hyperoside analysis. These newly developed and validated HPTLC systems were further applied to determine their concentrations in different Hypericum species.

RESULTS

Hyperforin concentration was found between 6.40 to 26.40 mg/g only in H. triquetrifolium, H. scabrum and two H. perforatum samples; hypericin was detected between 0.81 and 1.41 mg/g only in H. bithynicum, H. perfoliatum, H. triquetrifolium and two H. perforatum samples; and hyperoside was identified in all tested specimens ranging from 1.01 to 9.73 mg/g. The new HPTLC methods developed and validated in the present study may ensure reliable results for the qualification and quantification of hyperforin, hypericin and hyperoside contents in Hypericum species.

Advances in the quality control of fenugreek seeds using chromatographic, spectroscopic and DNA-based techniques: A comprehensive review

INTRODUCTION

Fenugreek has been used in traditional remedies since ancient times. It has a long history of use against medical ailments as an antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, gastric stimulant, and anti-anorexia agent. The major active constituents include alkaloids, fibres, saponins, proteins, and amino acids.

OBJECTIVES

To provide a comprehensive overview of the application of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, in addition to DNA-profiling methods to assess the quality of fenugreek. Also, to highlight the recent application of chemometrics combined with quality control methods during the last two decades.

METHODOLOGY

A literature search conducted from January 2000 up to December 2020 using various scientific databases (e.g., Scopus, Medline, PubMed, EBSCO, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Egyptian Knowledge Bank, Academic Journals, and Springer Link); general web searches were also undertaken using Google applying some related search terms. Studies involving the application of quality control analyses were classified into three categories according to the conducted analysis method including chromatographic [high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), and gas chromatography (GC)], spectroscopic [ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)], and DNA-based markers.

RESULTS

This review shed the light on relevant studies covering the past two decades, presenting the application of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods and DNA profiling in the quality control of fenugreek.

CONCLUSION

The reviewed chromatographic and spectroscopic methods combined with chemometrics provide a powerful tool that could be applied widely for the quality control of fenugreek.

Metabolite Fingerprinting Based on 1H-NMR Spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography for the Authentication of Herbal Products

Herbal medicines (HMs) are regarded as one of the traditional medicines in health care to prevent and treat some diseases. Some herbal components such as turmeric and ginger are used as HMs, therefore the identification and confirmation of herbal use are very necessary. In addition, the adulteration practice, mainly motivated to gain economical profits, may occur by substituting the high price of HMs with lower-priced ones or by addition of certain chemical constituents known as Bahan Kimia Obat (chemical drug ingredients) in Indonesia. Some analytical methods based on spectroscopic and chromatographic methods are developed for the authenticity and confirmation of the HMs used. Some approaches are explored during HMs authentication including single-component analysis, fingerprinting profiles, and metabolomics studies. The absence of reference standards for certain chemical markers has led to exploring the fingerprinting approach as a tool for the authentication of HMs. During fingerprinting-based spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, the data obtained were big, therefore the use of chemometrics is a must. This review highlights the application of fingerprinting profiles using variables of spectral and chromatogram data for authentication in HMs. Indeed, some chemometrics techniques, mainly pattern recognition either unsupervised or supervised, were applied for this purpose.

A Systematic Review on Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany and Biological Activities of the Genus Bunium L

The aim of this review article is to present, for the first time, an appraisal of the phytochemical, ethnobotanical and pharmacological data on Bunium species. The literature search was conducted using the Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The genus Bunium has been found to produce both essential oil (EO), mainly comprising monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, and non-volatile components mainly coumarins and flavonoids. There are several pharmacological activities associated with the Bunium species, especially antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The chemotaxonomic appraisal of the phytochemical pattern of the genus is in sink with the current classification of the family. Moreover, this review confirms the significant ethnobotanical and pharmacological potential of different Bunium species.

The method of establishing the authenticity and quality of Hypericum perforatum L. and Salvia officinalis L

The paper presents methods for the criteria for quality control, authenticity and stability of preparations and raw materials based on Hypericum perforatum L. and Salvia officinalis L. Various methods of extracting the most valuable components that make up the studied plants, as well as methods for their chromatographic determination, were proposed, metrological characteristics were obtained.•

The criteria for quality control and stability of drugs and raw materials were substantiated

•

The ratio of rutin to hyperforin determines the quality of Hypericum perforatum L.

•

The ratio of carnosic acid to carnosol characterizes Salvia officinalis L.

Seasonal dynamics of the phenolic constituents of the cones and leaves of oriental Thuja (Platycladus orientalis L.) reveal their anti-inflammatory biomarkers

In this study, the seasonal dynamics of the flavonoids in the cones and leaves of oriental Thuja (Platycladus orientalis L. Franco) as well as the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of their extracts were investigated. The important chemical markers of the studied extracts were determined using untargeted HPTLC profiling, which was further utilized to assess the seasonality effect on the composition of these metabolites over three seasonal cycles. A quantitative HPTLC method was developed and validated for the identified chemical markers of oriental Thuja: hyperoside, quercetrin, isoscutellarein-7-O-β-xyloside, cupressuflavone, hinokiflavone, sotetsuflavone and isoscutellarein-8-methyl ether. The highest amounts of flavonoids were observed during the summer and winter seasons, where the leaves possessed higher contents of flavonoids compared to cones. Flavone glycosides are a major class of flavones encountered in leaves, while the cones mainly accumulated biflavones. The results showed that the effect of seasonal variation on the accumulation of flavonoids within the cones was less pronounced than in the leaves. The summer leaves showed a remarkable reduction in the levels of INF-γ, where the value decreased to 80.7 ± 1.25 pg mL-1, a significantly lower level than that obtained with piroxicam (180 ± 1.47 pg mL-1); this suggests a noteworthy anti-inflammatory potential. OPLS (orthogonal projection to latent structures) models showed that flavonoidal glycosides, quercetrin, hyperoside and isoscutellarein-7-O-β-xyloside were the most contributing biomarkers to the reduction in pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated WBCs. The results obtained in the study can thus be exploited to establish the best organs as well as the optimal periods of the year for collecting and obtaining certain biomarkers at high concentrations to guarantee the efficacy of the obtained extracts.

Analysis and quantification of naturally occurring aflatoxin B1 in dry fruits with subsequent physical and biological detoxification

Current research involves extraction, identification and detoxification of mycotoxins from ten dry fruit samples. Mycotoxins were identified by high performance thin layer chromatography followed by physical and biological detoxification, analysed by HPLC. Three fungal species were observed after isolation including, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Fussarium sp. HP-TLC analysis revealed the presence of mycotoxin, aflatoxin B1 ranging from 0.000303-0.03636 mg/kg in all samples. Results were further analysed through various statistical tests. Detoxification methods proved to be cost effective and easily implementable. Concentration of aflatoxin B1 in pine nuts was reduced to 0.0043 mg/kg and 0.0039 mg/kg in dry dates through UV based detoxification. Solarisation reduced the concentration of aflatoxin B1 in figs to 0.0044 mg/kg. 90% aflatoxins were detoxified by UV treatment while Zingiber officinale powder detoxified 90% mycotoxin. This research concludes that the studied detoxification methods can be generalised on larger scale to benefit the dry fruit industry worldwide.

TLC-ESI-MS as a QuEChERS approach to detection of capsaicin present in different matrices

Pepper is one of the most consumed spices in the world. Its main compound is capsaicin, a widely studied biomarker that has pharmacological activities due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic capacity. Topical formulations such as patches based on capsaicin have been developed as an option in relieving pain and reducing swelling. In addition, capsaicin is used as an active ingredient in non-lethal weapon formulations such as pepper spray through the QuEChERS concept (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Robust, Safe) technique. Used for food analysis, it allows the direct analysis of the biomarker by TLC-ESI-MS, which are previously separated by HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) using an internal standard for determination of Rf and confirmation of capsaicin in different matrices.

Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activities of the Ethanolic Extract of Daphne sericea Vahl Flowering Aerial Parts Collected in Central Italy

In this paper, the first phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of Daphne sericea Vahl flowering aerial parts collected in Italy and its biological activities were reported. Eleven compounds were identified i.e., α-linolenic acid (1), tri-linoleoyl-sn-glycerol (2), pheophorbide a ethyl ester (3), pilloin (4), sinensetin (5), yuanhuanin (6), rutamontine (7), syringin (8), p-coumaric acid (9), p-anisic acid (10) and caffeic acid (11). To the best of our knowledge, compounds (1-4, 7-8 and 10) were isolated from D. sericea for the first time during this work, whereas sinensetin (5) represents a newly identified component of the entire Thymelaeaceae family. The extract was found to possess radical scavenging against both DPPH^• and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-thylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS^•+) radicals, with at least a 40-fold higher potency against the latter. Moreover, chelating abilities against both ferrous and ferric ions have been highlighted, thus suggesting a possible indirect antioxidant power of the extract. Although the precise bioactive compounds remain to be discovered, the polyphenolic constituents, including phenolic acids, tannins and flavonoids, seem to contribute to the antioxidant power of the phytocomplex. In addition, the extract produced cytotoxic effects in MDA-MB-231 and U87-MG cancer cell lines, especially at the concentration of 625 μg/mL and after 48–72 h. Further studies are required to clarify the contribution of the identified compounds in the bioactivities of the extract and to support possible future applications.

New solutions using natural products

Most antibiotics are derived from natural products, like penicillin, as well as recent insecticides, like pyrethroids. Secondary metabolites are produced by plants as ecological chemical mediators, and can therefore possess intrinsic physiological properties against other organisms. These benefits are far from being fully explored. In particular, attention is here focused on the multipurpose neem tree (Azadirachta indica), reporting several experiments of applications in the field of seed oil and neem cake. The latter product seems to be promising because of the low cost, the possible production on a large scale, and the selection of effects in favor of beneficial organisms. Neem cake is able to act on different sites, as required by integrated pest management. Several utilizations of neem products are reported and their potentiality evidenced. Some considerations in this chapter may appear distant from the title of the book, but only by applying the general natural rules can the reason of the single phenomenon be understood. Other studies on resistance mechanisms of Plasmodium are enabling new possible methods of control always based on natural products activity.

Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of extracts and fractions of Hymenaea eriogyne Benth

The objective of this study was to conduct phytochemical characterization and biological evaluation of Hymenaea eriogyne. Crude extracts and fractions from the bark, leaves and pods, were obtained for phytochemical screening by TLC and HPLC, and evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant potential. Chromatographic data revealed the presence of several metabolites, notably from the flavonoid class. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of the flavanonol astilbin (taxifolin 3-O-ramnoside) and other flavonoids derived from aglycone taxifolin. In addition, it was possible to quantify phytochemical markers in the extracts and fractions, which showed an increased content of flavonoid and catechin derivatives in the fraction. Better results of the minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations were obtained with extracts and fractions from bark. In the antioxidant activity using the DPPH method, the enriched bark fraction presented an IC₅₀ of 34.46 µg/mL. These results contribute to the continuity of studies on the chemical and biological composition of the species.

The inhibitory effects of an eight-herb formula (RCM-107) on pancreatic lipase: enzymatic, HPTLC profiling and in silico approaches

Aims

Obesity is a global, public health issue that causes or exacerbates serious medical disorders. Chinese herbal therapies have become one of the most popular alternatives due to intolerances of current anti-obesity treatments. The RCM-107 formula (granule) is modified from our previous studied RCM-104 formula, which has demonstrated significant effects on weight reduction in randomized clinical trials. Up to date, there is no published scientific evidence to evaluate the effect of this formula on the weight-loss target pancreatic lipase and therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of RCM-107 and respective individual ingredient on the pancreatic lipase activities.

Main methods

Fluorometric based enzymatic assays, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) profiling and in silico molecular docking techniques were used to investigate the lipase inhibitory effects of the RCM-107 herbal formula and its respective individual herbs.

Principle findings

The results demonstrated the potent lipase suppressing effect of the RCM-107 formula. The majority of the ingredients from this formula also showed pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. The presence of the known weight-loss compounds such as (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), (-)-epicatechin (EC), rutin, crocin and caffeine were identified in the RCM-107 and related single herbs using HPTLC profiling approaches. In addition, EGCG, EC and the known lipase antagonist orlistat acted on the same site. These compounds form hydrogen bonds with corresponding residues HIS152, ASP80 and GLY77, which can be considered as markers of important areas in the ligand-binding site. This may explain the details of their roles in inhibiting pancreatic lipase activities.

Conclusion

Our data has provided new knowledge to the mechanistic properties of the RCM-107 formula and its respective individual herbal ingredients for weight loss, in terms of reducing lipid absorption via the inhibition of pancreatic lipase.

Combinatorial analysis of quercetin and resveratrol by HPTLC in Sesbania grandiflora/phyto-based nanoformulations

A sensitive HPTLC method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of quercetin (QUR) and resveratrol (RES). The chromatographic separation was achieved using mobile phase toluene:chloroform:ethyl acetate:formic acid (3:2:4.9:0.1% v/v) and densitometric scan performed at 280 nm. The developed method was linear at 2-10 µg/mL with correlation coefficient of 0.9907 (QUR) and 0.9917 (RES). The method was validated for its precision, specificity, detection and quantification limits and % RSD was found to be less than 4.0%. The developed HPTLC method was evaluated in QUR and RES-loaded nanoformulation and Sesbania grandiflora leaf extract. The amount of QUR and RES present in the SG leaf extract was found to be 26.13 ± 0.7 µg/mg and 4.31 ± 0.8 µg/mg, respectively. The pH-dependent stability of RES has checked using the developed method. The above-developed method can be used to check the QUR/RES content in herbal/pharmaceutical formulation with scope towards industries.

A new high-throughput method to make a quality control on tattoo inks

Nowadays, practice of tattooing is very common worldwide and, along with this increasing trend, there is also an increased risk of adverse reactions to tattoo pigments that are well known and described in literature. Previous studies have reported that cutaneous and allergic reactions to a particular pigment can manifest in several ways (allergic contact dermatitis and photo-allergic dermatitis). In this paper, a new high-throughput method is presented, in order to achieve a new system for the quality control on tattoo inks based on chromatographic-spectroscopic approach. The samples, twenty-one tattoo inks and three permanent makeup, comprised the following colors: black inks, yellow, blue, green, white, pink and various shades of red (pigment that gives many allergic responses) were analyzed through the combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, the HPTLC-Raman. In particular, Raman technique has been chosen because of its high sensitivity towards the inorganic and organic pigments, main constituents of tattoo inks. Moreover, the advantage of this hyphenated technique is to overcome the problem of analysing the complex mixture of tattoo inks, allowing to obtain a Raman spectrum of each single component, isolated by chromatographic separation. This approach aims at developing a powerful instrument to establish the nature of tattoo inks and substances that could be cause adverse reactions in tattooed patients.

Metabolic discrimination of pine resins using multiple analytical platforms

Resins are one of the first sites of interaction between plants and biotic and abiotic factors. Despite their evident morphological and chemical differentiation from other plant organs, the detailed correlation between resins and biological or environmental factors is not yet clear. In this study, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-based profiling techniques were applied to the metabolic characterisation of plant resins of different species and season of collection, using samples from five different species that were collected during early and late spring. The ¹H NMR analysis confirmed the main metabolic groups in the resins to be terpenoids and further GC-MS analysis revealed a notable chemical variation between the species and collection periods. Abies grandis displayed a significant differentiation from the other species, showing a higher number of monoterpenes. The HPTLC-based profiling method hyphenated with multivariate data analysis (MVDA) also showed a clear separation confirming the GC-MS terpenoidal profiling results. Additionally, the unknown compounds were obtained by preparative TLC for identification. Based on the results of the three analytical platforms, it was concluded that the major difference in chemical composition of pine species was between species rather than the collection period. Nonetheless, the chemical profiles of resins from different species and collection periods can be well discriminated and correlated to mono- and sesquiterpenes in the case of species and diterpenes for the collection periods.

Mesembrine alkaloids: Review of their occurrence, chemistry, and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Mesembrine alkaloids are considered to be the primary active constituents of the South African medicinal plant Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae), and it is used as the dried or fermented aerial material from the plant, which is known as kanna (aka, channa, kougoed). Traditional regional use ranged from relieving thirst, mild analgesia, and alteration of mood. Current interest has focused primarily on the antidepressant action of preparations based on the plant and commercialization is expanding the recognition and availability of these preparations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Searches for the keywords "Sceletium or mesembrine" were performed in "PubMed-NCBI", "Chemical Abstracts SciFinder" and "Thomson Reuters Web of Science" databases in addition to the inclusion of references cited within prior reviews and scientific reports. Additionally the "SciFinder" database was searched using 3a-phenyl-cis-octahydroindole in the SciFinder Substructure Module (SSM). Plant taxonomy was validated by the database "The Plant List".

RESULTS

This review focuses on the chemistry, analysis, and pharmacology of the mesembrine alkaloids. Despite a long history of medicinal used and research investigation, there has been a renewed interest in the pharmacological properties of the mesembrine alkaloids and much of the pharmacology has only recently been published. The two major active alkaloids mesembrine and mesembrenone are still in the process of being more fully characterized pharmacologically. They are serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which provides a rationale for the plant's traditional use as an antidepressant, but other actions are beginning to appear in the literature. Additionally, mesembrenone has reasonably potent PDE4 inhibitory activity. This review intends to provide an overview of the available literature, summarize the current findings, and put them in perspective with earlier studies and reviews.

Ethnobotanical uses of neem (Azadirachta indica A.Juss.; Meliaceae) leaves in Bali (Indonesia) and the Indian subcontinent in relation with historical background and phytochemical properties

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Neem (Azadirachta indica; Meliaceae) is widely known for its cold pressed seed oil, mainly used as insecticide, but also for cosmetic, medicinal and agricultural uses. The seed oil is widely employed in the Indian subcontinent, and the leaves seem to have a lower relevance, but the ethnobotanical information of Bali (Indonesia) considers the utilisation of leaves for medicinal properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We report ethnopharmacological information about current uses of neem, in particular of the leaves, besides the insecticidal one, we discuss on the historical background of their uses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnobotanical data were collected using both literature and scientific references and semi-structured interviews with 50 informants (ages ranged between 14 and 76 years old) through the snowball method in thirteen aga (indigenous Balinese) villages, following Ethic code procedures. The informants were asked to specify: which part of the plant was used, and how that plant part was used. Plant specimens were collected, identified and made into herbarium voucher. In consideration of the high variability and complex chemical constituent of neem, a HPTLC analysis of neem leaves coming from both the Indonesian island of Bali and the Indian subcontinent was carried out.

RESULTS

The data on the medical use of traditional preparations from leaves of neem display a wide spectrum of applications. In the Indian subcontinent, neem leaves are used to treat dental and gastrointestinal disorders, malaria fevers, skin diseases, and as insects repellent, while the Balinese used neem leaves as a diuretic and for diabetes, headache, heartburn, and stimulating the appetite. Differences in utilisation cannot be related to chemical differences and other constituents besides limonoids must be investigated and related to the multipurpose activity of neem.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that neem leaves are believed to treat diabetes in both Balinese and Indian communities. Limonoids can not be considered the only responsible of digestive properties. Further research would be the validation of this report by enzymatic tests and the identification of active constituents.

Nutritional composition, bioactive compounds and volatile profile of cocoa beans from different regions of Cameroon

Analysis of the complex composition of cocoa beans provides fundamental information for evaluating the quality and nutritional aspects of cocoa-based food products, nutraceuticals and supplements. Cameroon, the world's fourth largest producer of cocoa, has been defined as "Africa in miniature" because of the variety it habitats. In order to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of cocoa beans from five different regions of Cameroon, we studied their polyphenolic content, volatile compounds and fatty acids composition. The High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analysis showed that the Mbalmayo sample had the highest content of theobromine (11.6 mg/g) and caffeic acid (2.1 mg/g), while the Sanchou sample had the highest level of (-)-epicatechin (142.9 mg/g). Concerning fatty acids, the lowest level of stearic acid was found in the Mbalmayo sample while the Bertoua sample showed the highest content of oleic acid. Thus, we confirmed that geographical origin influences the quality and nutritional characteristics of cocoa from these regions of Cameroon.

Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus as a Model for Studying Plant Physiological and Metabolic Responses to Environmental Stress Factors

Variations in physiology and metabolic products of Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus along an altitudinal gradient (350-750 m.a.s.l.) within the Monti Lucretili Regional Natural Park (central Italy) were studied. The results showed that the phenol production was in relationship with the net photosynthetic rates and the chlorophyll content. In particular, the increasing caffeic acid (CA) content with altitude suggested its role in providing an additional photo-protection mechanism, by its ability to consume photochemical reducing power and acting as an alternative C-atom sink under high light conditions. The metabolic production was tested by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint analysis, highlighting the potential of this technique in biologic studies.

Multi-components determination by single reference standard and HPLC fingerprint analysis for Lamiophlomis rotata Pill

A validated HPLC method was developed to evaluate the quality of Lamiophlomis rotata Pill combining the multi-components analysis by single reference standard with HPLC fingerprint analysis. Five bioactive components (shanzhiside methyl ester, loganin, 8-O-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester, forsythoside B and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside) were selected as markers to control the quality of L. rotata Pill. The results revealed that the chromatographic fingerprint method coupled with multi-components analysis provides an effective and feasible way to determine the components in L. rotata Pill.