Chemical markers for the quality control of herbal medicines: an overview

β,β-Dimethylacrylalkannin, a key component of Zicao, induces cell cycle arrest and necrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

β,β-Dimethylacrylalkannin (DMAKN), a natural naphthoquinone found in Zicao, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), serves as the designated quantitative marker in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Despite its established role in assessing Zicao quality, DMAKN's biological potential remains underexplored in research.

METHODS

We investigated DMAKN's involvement in Zicao's anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) properties using a combination of HPLC content analysis and comprehensive bioinformatics. Subsequently, both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate DMAKN's efficacy against HCC. Mechanistic investigations focused on elucidating DMAKN's impact on cell cycle regulation and induction of cell death.

RESULTS

Integrated HPLC analysis and bioinformatics identified DMAKN as the primary active compound responsible for Zicao's anti-HCC activity. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed DMAKN's potent efficacy against HCC. Notably, DMAKN demonstrated dual effects on HCC cells: inhibiting proliferation at lower doses and inducing rapid cell death at higher doses. Mechanistic insights revealed that low-dose DMAKN induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest through modulation of CDK1 and Cdc25C phosphorylation, while high-dose DMAKN triggered necrosis. Importantly, high-dose DMAKN caused a sharp increase in intracellular ROS levels in a short time, while low-dose DMAKN gradually increased ROS levels over a long period. Additionally, low-dose DMAKN-induced ROS activated the JNK pathway, crucial for cell cycle arrest, whereas high-dose DMAKN-induced necrosis was ROS-dependent but JNK-independent.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores DMAKN's pivotal role as the principal anti-HCC compound in Zicao, delineating its differential effects and underlying mechanisms. These results demonstrate the potential of DMAKN as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC, providing important information for further study and advancement in cancer therapy.

Comparative Metabolic Profiling of Different Colored Rice Grains Reveals the Distribution of Major Active Compounds and Key Secondary Metabolites in Green Rice

Pigmented rice grains are important resources for health and nutritional perspectives. Thus, a thorough dissection of the variation of nutrients and bioactive metabolites in different colored rice is of global interest. This study applied LC-MS-based widely targeted metabolite profiling and unraveled the variability of metabolites and nutraceuticals in long grain/non-glutinous black (BR), red (RR), green (GR), and white rice (WR) grains. We identified and classified 1292 metabolites, including five flavonoid compounds specific to BR. The metabolite profiles of the four rice grains showed significant variation, with 275-543 differentially accumulated metabolites identified. Flavonoid (flavone, flavonol, and anthocyanin) and cofactor biosynthesis were the most differentially regulated pathways among the four rice types. Most bioactive flavonoids, anthocyanidins (glycosylated cyanidins and peonidins), phenolic acids, and lignans had the highest relative content in BR, followed by RR. Most alkaloids, amino acids and derivatives, lipids, and vitamins (B6, B3, B1, nicotinamide, and isonicotinic acid) had higher relative contents in GR than others. Procyanidins (B1, B2, and B3) had the highest relative content in RR. In addition, we identified 25 potential discriminatory biomarkers, including fagomine, which could be used to authenticate GR. Our results show that BR and RR are important materials for medicinal use, while GR is an excellent source of nutrients (amino acids and vitamins) and bioactive alkaloids. Moreover, they provide data resources for the science-based use of different colored rice varieties in diverse industries.

Altitudinal variation of dragon fruit metabolite profiles as revealed by UPLC-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics analysis

BACKGROUND

Geographical factors affect the nutritional, therapeutic and commercial values of fruits. Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp) is a popular fruit in Asia and a potential functional food with diverse pharmacological attributes. Although it is produced in various localities, the information related to the altitudinal variation of dragon fruit nutrients and active compounds is scarce. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the variations in metabolite profiles of H. polyrhizus (variety Jindu1) fruit pulps from three different altitudes of China, including Wangmo (WM, 650 m), Luodian (LD, 420 m), and Zhenning (ZN, 356 m). Jindu1 is the main cultivated pitaya variety in Guizhou province, China.

RESULTS

The LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy)-based widely targeted metabolic profiling identified 645 metabolites, of which flavonoids (22.64%), lipids (13.80%), phenolic acids (12.40%), amino acids and derivatives (10.39%), alkaloids (8.84%), and organic acids (8.37%) were dominant. Multivariate analyses unveiled that the metabolite profiles of the fruit differed regarding the altitude. Fruits from WM (highest altitude) were prime in quality, with higher levels of flavonoids, alkaloids, nucleotides and derivatives, amino acids and derivatives, and vitamins. Fruits from LD and ZN had the highest relative content of phenolic acids and terpenoids, respectively. We identified 69 significantly differentially accumulated metabolites across the pulps of the fruits from the three locations. KEGG analysis revealed that flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and isoflavonoid biosynthesis were the most differentially regulated. It was noteworthy that most active flavonoid compounds exhibited an increasing accumulation pattern along with the increase in altitude. Vitexin and isovitexin were the major differentially accumulated flavonoids. Furthermore, we identified two potential metabolic biomarkers (vitexin and kaempferol 3-O-[2-O-β-D-galactose-6-O-a-L-rhamnose]-β-D-glucoside) to discriminate between dragon fruits from different geographical origins.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide insights into metabolic changes in dragon fruits grown at different altitudes. Furthermore, they show that growing pitaya at high altitudes can produce fruit with higher levels of bioactive compounds, particularly flavonoids.

Rapid characterization of non-volatile phenolic compounds reveals the reliable chemical markers for authentication of traditional Chinese medicine Xiang-ru among confusing Elsholtzia species

The aerial parts of Mosla chinensis Maxim. and Mosla chinensis cv. 'Jiangxiangru' (MCJ) are widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), known collectively as Xiang-ru. However, due to clinical effectiveness concerns and frequent misidentification, the original plants have increasingly been substituted by various species within the genera Elsholtzia and Mosla. The challenge in distinguishing between these genera arises from their similar morphological and metabolic profiles. To address this issue, our study introduced a rapid method for metabolic characterization, employing high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Through detailed biosynthetic and chemometric analyses, we pinpointed five phenolic compounds-salviaflaside, cynaroside, scutellarein-7-O-D-glucoside, rutin, and vicenin-2-among 203 identified compounds, as reliable chemical markers for distinguishing Xiang-ru from closely related Elsholtzia species. This methodology holds promise for broad application in the analysis of plant aerial parts, especially in verifying the authenticity of aromatic traditional medicinal plants. Our findings underscore the importance of non-volatile compounds as dependable chemical markers in the authentication process of aromatic traditional medicinal plants.

Comparative Metabolomics Analysis of Different Perilla Varieties Provides Insights into Variation in Seed Metabolite Profiles and Antioxidant Activities

Perilla seeds are essential functional foods and key ingredients in traditional medicine. Herein, we investigated the variation in phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of twelve different perilla seeds. The seeds showed significant variations in total phenolic and flavonoid contents ranging from 16.92 to 37.23 mg GAE/g (GAE, gallic acid equivalent) and 11.6 to 19.52 mg CAE/g (CAE, catechin equivalent), respectively. LC-QqQ-MS (liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry)-based widely targeted metabolic profiling identified a total of 975 metabolites, including 68-269 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Multivariate analyses categorized the seeds into four groups based on the seed coat and leaf colors. Most key bioactive DAMs, including flavonoids (quercetin-3'-O-glucoside, prunin, naringenin, naringenin chalcone, butin, genistin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, etc.), amino acids (valine, lysine, histidine, glutamine, threonine, etc.), and vitamins (B1, B3, B6, U, etc.) exhibited the highest relative content in PL3 (brown seed, purple leaf), PL1 (white seed, green-purple leaf), and PL4 (white seed, green leaf) groups, respectively. Meanwhile, key differentially accumulated phenolic acids showed a higher relative content in PL1 and PL4 than in other groups. Both seeds exhibited high antioxidant activities, although those of PL2 (brown seed, green leaf) group seeds were the lowest. Our results may facilitate the comprehensive use of perilla seeds in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Quality by design-based development and optimization of fourth-generation ternary solid dispersion of standardized Piper longum extract for melanoma therapy

The study aimed to enhance the solubility, dissolution, and oral bioavailability of standardized Piper longum fruits ethanolic extract (PLFEE) via fourth-generation ternary solid dispersion (SD) for melanoma therapy. With the use of solvent evaporation method, the standardized PLFEE was formulated into SD, optimized using Box-Wilson's central composite design (CCD), and evaluated for pharmaceutical performance and in vivo anticancer activity against melanoma (B16F10)-bearing C57BL/6 mice. The optimized SD showed good accelerated stability, high yield, drug content, and content uniformity for bioactive marker piperine (PIP). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis revealed its amorphous nature. The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) revealed the compatibility of excipients with the PLFEE. The contact angle measurement and in vitro dissolution study revealed excellent wetting of SD and improved dissolution profile as compared to the plain PLFEE. The in vivo oral bioavailability of SD reflected a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in bioavailability (Frel = 188.765%) as compared to plain extract. The in vivo tumor regression study revealed the improved therapeutic activity of SD as compared to plain PLFEE. Further, the SD also improved the anticancer activity of dacarbazine (DTIC) as an adjuvant therapy. The overall result revealed the potential of developed SD for melanoma therapy either alone or as an adjuvant therapy with DTIC.

A new chromanone acid derivative from the nut oil resin of Calophyllum inophyllum

One novel chromanone acid derivative, namely inocalophylline C (1), together with one known compound calophyllolide (2), were isolated from the methanolic extract of nut oil resin of Calophyllum inophyllum L., a medicinal plant widely distributed in Vietnam. The isolated compound structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and the absolute configuration of 1 was established by the single-crystal X-ray crystallography as ethyl (R) 3-((2 R,3R,6R)-4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethyl-6-((R)-5-methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)hex-4-en-1-yl)-6-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-5,7-dioxo-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-chromen-8-yl)-3-phenylpropanoate.

Authentication and identification of Lamiaceae family with cyclic voltammetry fingerprint-PCA-LDA and determination of the used phenolic contents for classification using chromatographic analyses

Todays, it is essential to evaluate and check the quality of herbal medicines in to protect the public health. As medicinal plants, the extracts of labiate herbs are used directly or indirectly to treat a variety of diseases. Increase in their consumption has led to the fraud in herbal medicines. Hence, modern accurate diagnostic methods must be introduced to differentiate and authenticate these samples. Electrochemical fingerprints have not been evaluated for their capacity to distinguish and classify various genera within a family. Since it is essential to classify, identify, and distinguish between these closely related plants in order to guarantee the quality of the raw materials, the authenticity and quality of 48 dried and fresh Lamiaceae samples, which include Mint, Thyme, Oregano, Satureja, Basil, and Lavender with various geographic origins, were examined. The present study focused on (a) classification and authentication Labiate herbs extracts and (b) identification of active compounds in samples by Gas chromatography and HPLC methods. This was accomplished using principal component analysis (PCA) and PCA-linear discriminate analysis (PCA-LDA). The results of the clustering revealed that PCA-LDA categorized mint species more accurately than PCA. In addition to certain flavonoids including ferulic acid, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, HPLC and GC analysis of the ethanolic extract revealed the presence of phenolic acids such as rosmarenic acid, methyl rosmarenate, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, and chlorogenic acid. Comparing results of PCA-LDA with chromatographic analysis show that the authentication and detection of fraud samples were correctly performed using chemometyrics technique based on CV fingerprints. Even, there was no need to completely identify components of the mint samples.

HPLC and DNA barcoding profiles for identification of the selected twelve Mucuna species and its application for detecting prohibited aphrodisiac Mucuna products

Aphrodisiac herbal products originated from various plants including Mucuna species. In Thai folklore, Mucuna macrocarpa Wall. and M. pruriens (L.) DC. have long been consumed and utilized for their aphrodisiac properties. Consumption of these plants can lead to serious adverse effects caused by l-dopa. The plants have been legally banned for use as foods, dietary supplements, or nutraceuticals by the FDA of several countries. To protect consumers, methods for the identification of illicit plants or herbal products are needed. This study aimed to identify the selected twelve Mucuna species and examine the aphrodisiac herbal products containing M. macrocarpa and M. pruriens by using HPLC analysis of l-dopa coupled with DNA barcoding profiles of ITS, matK, rbcL, and trnH-psbA. The results showed that l-dopa could be found not only in the seeds of M. macrocarpa and M. pruriens but also in associated allied Mucuna species. Then, a DNA barcode was introduced to support in HPLC profiling to identify the plants. DNA barcodes of twelve Mucuna species found in Thailand were established and used to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree. In this study, ITS2 sequences showed the highest interspecific variability and could be used to differentiate all Mucuna species. The results of ITS2 sequence coupled with HPLC analysis revealed that all the purchased aphrodisiac products originated from M. pruriens only. Therefore, the integration of HPLC analysis and DNA barcoding profile was an efficient method for the identification of prohibited Mucuna species for safety monitoring of herbal supplements and protecting customer safety. Regulatory agencies should raise awareness and restrain the use of these commercial products.

Phytochemical Screening and Isolation of New Ent-Clerodane Diterpenoids from Croton guatemalensis Lotsy

Phytochemical screening of an ethanol-water extract (EWE) from the bark of Croton guatemalensis led to the isolation and identification of eight compounds, among them: five ent-clerodane diterpenoids [junceic acid (1), 6(s)-acetoxy-15,16-diepoxy-ent-cleroda-3,13(16),14-trien-20-oic acid (crotoguatenoic acid A) (2), 6(s)-hydroxyoxy-15,16-diepoxy-ent-cleroda-3,13(16),14-trien-20-oic acid (crotoguatenoic acid B) (3), formosin F (4), bartsiifolic acid (5)], and three flavonoids [rutin (6), epicatechin (7), and quercetin (8)]. Of these, 2 and 3 are reported here for the first time. Structures were established through conventional spectroscopy methods and their absolute configurations were determined by optical rotation and comparison of experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and theoretical calculated ECD spectra. A suitable high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantifying rutin (6) was developed and validated according to standard protocols. Affinity-directed fractionation was used to identify possible in vitro active compounds on α-glucosidases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. HPLC-ESI-MS was used to identify the inhibitors as free ligands after being released from the enzymatic complex by denaturing acidic conditions. The affinity studies led to the identification of ent-clerodane diterpenoids as active compounds. In silico analysis allowed us to determine the best conformational rearrangement for the α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Evaluation of the Antihyperglycemic and Antihyperlipidemic Activity of Saussurea hypoleuca Root in Alloxan-Induced Diabetes in Rat Model and Correlation to Its Major Secondary Metabolites

Saussurea hypoleuca belongs to the family Asteraceae, which has previously shown hepatoprotective, anticancer, and antioxidant activity. This study aimed to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity of its root methanol extract and various fractions for the first time. This was performed using alloxan-induced diabetes in the rat model for both short, and long-term periods using different administration doses. Different biochemical parameters were studied and further consolidated by histopathological examination and in silico molecular modeling. The results showed that in the long-term study, at a dose of 400 mg/kg b.wt, the ethyl acetate fraction caused a pronounced reduction in fasting blood glucose level (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) by 77.2% and 36.8%, respectively, compared to the diabetic group. This was confirmed by the histopathological examination of the animals’ pancreatic sections. The ethyl acetate fraction also showed a reduction in total cholesterol (TC), total glycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. It improved kidney and liver functions, causing a reduction in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), urea, and creatinine levels. This is mainly attributed to its richness in secondary metabolites. Molecular docking showed that all the tested compounds showed certain inhibitory potential towards human α-glucosidase (HAG) and ATP citrate lyase (ACL). Thus, Saussurea hypoleuca roots can help in the management of hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic and kidney dysfunction.

Standardization of the ethanolic extract of Crinum latifolium leaves by two bioactive markers with antiproliferative activity against TGF-β-promoted prostate stromal cells (WPMY-1)

BACKGROUND

Crinum latifolium L. (Amaryllidaceae) has been used in Southeast Asian traditional medicine to alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The pathological mechanism of BPH is associated with the induction of prostate stromal cell proliferation through transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Standardization as well as investigation of the potential anti-BPH activity of C. latifolium extract could benefit the further development of BPH-related analyses and provide evidence to support the application of this extract for BPH treatment. This study aimed to standardize and investigate the antiproliferative activity of the ethanolic extract of C. latifolium leaves. The major alkaloids isolated from C. latifolium were also explored for their potential use as bioactive markers.

METHODS

Two major alkaloids were isolated from the ethanolic extract of C. latifolium leaves by chromatographic techniques, identified by NMR and MS, and quantified by a validated UHPLC method. Their antiproliferative activity was studied in human prostate stromal cells (WPMY-1) induced by TGF-β. The synergistic effect of combining the two major isolated alkaloids was analyzed by the zero interaction potency (ZIP) model.

RESULTS

Two alkaloids, lycorine (1) and 6α-hydroxybuphanidrine (2), were isolated from the ethanolic leaf extract of C. latifolium. A UHPLC method for the quantification of (1) and (2) was developed and validated in terms of linearity, precision, and accuracy. The C. latifolium leaf extract contained 0.279 ± 0.003% (1) and 0.232 ± 0.004% (2). The crude extract was more potent than either (1) and (2) alone against TGF-β-treated WPMY-1 cell proliferation. The drug combination study revealed that the greatest synergistic effect of (1) and (2) was achieved at a 1:1 ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study support the anti-BPH activity of C. latifolium in traditional medicine and suggest that these the two isolated alkaloids may promote the efficacy of the C. latifolium extract. Additionally, major alkaloids (1) and (2) can be used as bioactive markers for the standardization of C. latifolium extracts.

Standardization and Quality Control of the Herbal Medicine Mist Nibima, Employed to Treat Malaria and COVID-19, Using Physicochemical and Organoleptic Parameters and Quantification of Chemical Markers via UHPLC-MS/MS

Mist Nibima is an essential herbal medicine used to treat malaria, bacterial, yeast, and COVID-19 infections. However, the drug has not been standardized and its active chemical ingredients are also not known. This study employed physicochemical, organoleptic, qualitative, and quantitate phytochemical analysis to established standards for Mist Nibima. Additionally, UHPLC was used to quantify the alkaloid cryptolepine in the drug using calibration curve. The chemical ingredients in Mist Nibima were thereafter characterized using UHPLC-MS. Organoleptic evaluation shows that Mist Nibima is a very bitter, cloudy, broom yellow decoction with the following physicochemical parameters: pH = 6.10 ± 0.08 (at 28.3°C), total solid residue = 5.34 ± 0.27%w/v, and specific gravity = 1.0099 ± 0.0000. The total alkaloid (23.71 ± 1.311%) content of the drug is 3 times its total saponins (7.993 ± 0.067%) content. Methyl cryptolepinoate (37.10%), cryptolepine (33.56%), quindoline (20.78%), 11-isopropylcryptolepine (5.16%), and hydroxycryptolepine (3.14%) were the active chemical ingredients in the drug with the concentrations of 18.64 ± 0.255, 16.85 ± 0.231, 10.42 ± 0.143, 2.56 ± 0.034, and 1.70 ± 0.023 µg/mL, respectively. Administration of a single oral therapeutic dose (30 mL) of Mist Nibima corresponds to ingestion of 559.2 ± 7.662, 505.5 ± 6.930, 312.6 ± 4.285, 76.8 ± 1.028, and 51.0 ± 0.699 µg of methyl cryptolepinoate, cryptolepine, quindoline, 11-isopropylcryptolepine, and hydroxycryptolepine, respectively. This translates into a corresponding daily dose of 1677.6 ± 22.986, 1516.5 ± 20.790, 937.8 ± 12.855, 230.4 ± 3.084, and 153.0 ± 2.097 µg of methyl cryptolepinoate, cryptolepine, quindoline, 11-isopropylcryptolepine, and hydroxycryptolepine. These results could now serve as tools for authentication, standardization, and quality control of Mist Nibima to ensure its chemical and pharmacological consistency and safety.

Phytoconstituents assessment and development of standardization protocol for 'Nayopayam Kwatha', a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation

Background

Nayopayam kwatha (NK) is a well-known polyherbal formulation widely used to cure respiratory ailments, heart problems, and postnatal difficulties. Literature suggests that so far no standardization protocol was developed for NK to validate its quality and purity.

Objective(s)

To develop a standardization protocol for NK based on the marker phytoconstituents present in the individual herbs of the formulation.

Materials and methods

The roots of bala [Sida cordifolia (B1) and Sida retusa (B2)], seeds of jeeraka (Cuminum cyminum), and rhizomes of nagara (Zingiber officinale) were the ingredients of NK. Since there were two source plants for bala, two sets of NK (NKB1 and NKB2) were prepared in the ratio 3:2:1 as per Vaidya Manorama and 10:1:1 as per Arogyaraksha Kalpadruma along with 1:1:1 as per the general way of Ayurvedic polyherbal decoctions. Both the individual herbs and the kwatha (decoction) prepared were analyzed in terms of pharmacognostical, organoleptic, and physcicochemical parameters as per the standard methods. Phytochemical analysis of the individual herbs resulted in the isolation of major phytoconstituents and the kwatha was quantified in terms of marker compounds with the aid of HPLC.

Results

HPLC quantification suggests that appreciable amount of marker phytoconstituents of individual herbs are present in the kwatha. Thus, the isolated compounds luteolin (C. cyminum), 6-gingerol (Z. officinale), β-sitosterol (S. retusa), and ecdysterone (S.cordifolia) can be used as markers to standardize NK.

Conclusion

Characteristics of NK, as well as its individual drugs, were well-established. The present study of NK with respect to its phytochemistry revealed that the classical drug ratios of the polyherbal formulation are of utmost importance rather than the ingredients in equal proportion. The characterization parameters of individual herbs and kwatha described in this study may serve as a standard reference for quality control analysis of NK and the method developed in this study can be used as a reliable technique for standardization of NK to ensure the purity and quality of raw drugs used.

Development of an HPTLC-based dynamic reference standard for the analysis of complex natural products using Jarrah honey as test sample

In this paper, we describe a novel approach to the development of a reference standard for the quality control of complex natural products, which will assist in the assessment of their authenticity and purity. The proposed method provides a template for the selection of samples, which can be pooled to obtain a reference standard. A shortfall of such an approach is, however, that the pooled sample is static in nature and therefore unable to capture difference in processing conditions or natural variations triggered by geographical or climatic impacts over time. To address this, the paper also outlines the development of a dynamic reference standard, which allows for ongoing adjustments to future variations. The method employs High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) derived extract profiles processed by multivariate analysis. The development of the dynamic reference standard is illustrated using honey, a complex natural matrix, as an example.

Isolation of diterpenes from Araucaria sp Brazilian brown propolis and development of a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method for its analysis

Propolis comprises a complex resinous product composed of plant's parts or exudates, pollen, bee wax, and enzymes. Brazilian brown propolis from Araucaria sp displays several biological activities. Considering the lack of validated analytical methods for its analysis, we are reporting the development of a validated high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector method to analyze Araucaria brown propolis. The crude propolis were extracted and chromatographed, furnishing six main diterpenes. The isolated standards were used to draw the analytical curves, allowing the studies of selectivity, precision, accuracy, recovery, robustness, the determination of limits of detection and limits of quantification. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% acetic acid in water and acetonitrile, using an octadecylsilane column, 1 mL/min flow rate and detection at 200 or 241 nm. Relative standard deviation values obtained for intra-day and inter-day precision were lower than 4% for all diterpenes. From the five parameters for robustness, wavelength detection and flow rate were the critical ones. Limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.808 to 10.359 μg/mL and from 2.448 to 31.392 μg/mL, respectively. The recoveries were between 105.03 and 108.13%, with relative standard deviation values around 5.0%. The developed method is precise, sensitive, and reliable for analyzing Araucaria brown propolis.

A Validated, Rapid and Cost-Efficient HPTLC Method for Quantification of Gamma-Linolenic Acid in Borage Oil and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity

Borage oil that is extracted from (Borago officinalis Linn.) is a well-known medicinal plant having various medicinal benefits. In this work, an affordable, simple, reliable, rapid and easily accessible high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed for the estimation of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in borage oil. HPTLC method employs thin-layer chromatography (TLC) aluminum plates precoated with silica gel (G60F254) as the stationary phase, and the mixture of hexane:toulene:glacial acetic acid (3:7:1, v/v/v) was used as the mobile phase. Densitometric analysis of the TLC plates was carried out at 200 nm. The developed method showed well-resolved spots with retention factor (Rf) value of 0.53 ± 0.04 for GLA. Various experimental conditions like saturation time for chamber, solvent phase migration and width of the band were studied intensely for selecting the optimum conditions. The method validation was performed for parameters like linearity, accuracy, specificity and precision. The values of limit of detection and limit of quantification for GLA were found to be 0.221 and 0.737 μg/band, respectively. In nutshell, the developed HPTLC method was found to be highly sensitive for the estimation of GLA in the herbal oil samples and formulations.

Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products

Chemical methods are the most important and widely used traditional plant identification techniques recommended by national and international pharmacopoeias. We have reviewed the successful use of different chemical methods for the botanical authentication of 2,386 commercial herbal products, sold in 37 countries spread over six continents. The majority of the analyzed products were reported to be authentic (73%) but more than a quarter proved to be adulterated (27%). At a national level, the number of products and the adulteration proportions varied very widely. Yet, the adulteration reported for the four countries, from which more than 100 commercial products were purchased and their botanical ingredients chemically authenticated, was 37% (United Kingdom), 31% (Italy), 27% (United States), and 21% (China). Simple or hyphenated chemical analytical techniques have identified the total absence of labeled botanical ingredients, substitution with closely related or unrelated species, the use of biological filler material, and the hidden presence of regulated, forbidden or allergenic species. Additionally, affecting the safety and efficacy of the commercial herbal products, other low quality aspects were reported: considerable variability of the labeled metabolic profile and/or phytochemical content, significant product-to-product variation of botanical ingredients or even between batches by the same manufacturer, and misleading quality and quantity label claims. Choosing an appropriate chemical technique can be the only possibility for assessing the botanical authenticity of samples which have lost their diagnostic microscopic characteristics or were processed so that DNA cannot be adequately recovered.

Simultaneous Determination of Eight Chemical Components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Its Herbal Products by QAMS

A HPLC method has been developed for simultaneously detecting chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, coniferyl ferulate, senkyunolide A, ligustilide, and levistolide A in Angelicae Sinensis Radix through quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single-marker (QAMS) method with ferulic acid as internal standard substance. The relative analysis correction factors of each component in Angelicae Sinensis Radix have good reproducibility under different chromatography conditions. In addition, no significant difference of results was found between quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single-marker (QAMS) method and external standard method in determining content of these components of different Angelicae Sinensis Radix and its 12 kinds of preparations. As a result, the established QAMS method for Angelicae Sinensis Radix analysis with ferulic acid as internal standard substance is accurate and feasible, which could be used as an effective and economical method to control quality of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and its herbal products.

Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds in Mango Ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) from Myanmar

Curcuma amada Roxb. (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as mango ginger because its rhizome and foliar parts have a similar aroma to mango. The rhizome has been widely used in food industries and alternative medicines to treat a variety of internal diseases such as cough, bronchitis, indigestion, colic, loss of appetite, hiccups, and constipation. The composition of the volatile constituents in a fresh rhizome of C. amada is not reported in detail. The present study aimed to screen and characterize the composition of volatile organic compound (VOC) in a fresh rhizome of three C. amada (ZO45, ZO89, and ZO114) and one C. longa (ZO138) accessions originated from Myanmar. The analysis was carried out by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS). As a result, 122 VOCs were tentatively identified from the extracted 373 mass spectra. The following compounds were the ten most highly abundant and broadly present ones: ar-turmerone, α-zingiberene, α-santalene, (E)-γ-atlantone, cuparene, β-bisabolene, teresantalol, β-sesquiphellandrene, trans-α-bergamotene, γ-curcumene. The intensity of ar-turmerone, the sesquiterpene which is mainly characterized in C. longa essential oil (up to 15.5-27.5%), was significantly higher in C. amada accession ZO89 (15.707 ± 5.78a) compared to C. longa accession ZO138 (0.300 ± 0.08b). Cis-α-bergamotene was not detected in two C. amada accessions ZO45 and ZO89. The study revealed between-species variation regarding identified VOCs in the fresh rhizome of C. amada and C. longa.

Quality Markers for Astragali Radix and Its Products Based on Process Analysis

Due to the complex nature of traditional medicines, quality control methods need to cover two aspects: compliance of raw materials with quality standards and process control. Astragali radix (AR), the roots of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, was selected in this study as an example of a widely used traditional medicine in various formulations. Astragaloside IV (AG IV) and calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucoside (CG) are used as the markers for the quality control of AR and its products in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, in the raw materials, malic acid esters of the CG and acetate esters of the astragaloside are easily decomposed into CG and AG IV during storage and processing of AR to make extracts for various preparations. The thermal stability of the isoflavonoids and astragalosides in decoction was studied. The level of CG and astragalosides (AG I/AG II/AG IV) was strongly affected by prolonged heat during processing, while calycosin was stable in the conditions. Also the major astragalosides in AR could fully converted into AG IV which eventually reaches a stable level under certain conditions. With calycosin and AG IV as marker components, practical, reproducible, and precise methods were established and applied to the quality analysis of AR from its raw materials to its intermediates and products. This study demonstrates that a full chemical profiles analysis of the whole manufacturing process (from “raw materials—intermediates/extracts—final product”) is important to identify quality markers (Q-markers) and even to establish proper analysis methods for traditional Chinese medicine products.

Fast and easily applicable LC-UV method for analysis of bioactive anthrones from Aloe leaf latex

Aloe leaf latex is a commonly used plant preparation in traditional medicine. However, quality control on the content of medicinally important constituents is often limited. Hence, establishing a reliable quality control method to identify and quantify bioactive markers is important to ensure safety and efficacy. In the present study, a novel liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed and validated for efficient analysis of bioactive markers to evaluate the quality of aloe leaf latex. Quantification of marker compounds was possible in only 7 min on a monolithic column using gradient elution with 0.1 % formic acid in acetonitrile and water as mobile phases. The major compounds (aloins A and B) could be baseline separated together with related compounds within 10 min. The method showed excellent linearity with determination coefficients (r²) of 0.9999. Detection limits were 0.017 and 0.013 μg/mL, while quantification limits were 0.057 and 0.043 μg/mL for aloin A and aloin B, respectively. Relative standard deviation (RSD) values for intra- and inter-day precision were less than 2% and recoveries for both aloins were close to 100 %. The robustness was evaluated using an experimental design. The method was applied to some aloe leaf latex samples from Ethiopia. Aloin contents varied from 14 to 35 % and two unknown peaks were tentatively identified as aloinoside and microdontin.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Genus Gynura: A Systematic Review

Background: Gynura species have been used traditionally to treat various ailments, such as fever, pain, and to control blood glucose level. This systematic review critically discusses studies regarding Gynura species that exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thus providing perspectives and instructions for future research of the plants as a potential source of new dietary supplements or medicinal agents. Methods: A literature search from internet databases of PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, e-theses Online Service, and ProQuest was carried out using a combination of keywords such as "Gynura," "antioxidant," "anti-inflammatory," or other related words. Research articles were included in this study if they were experimental (in vitro and in vivo) or clinical studies on the antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects of Gynura species and if they were articles published in English. Results: Altogether, 27 studies on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Gynura species were selected. The antioxidant effects of Gynura species were manifested by inhibition of reactive oxygen species production and lipid peroxidation, modulation of glutathione-related parameters, and enzymatic antioxidant production or activities. The anti-inflammatory effects of Gynura species were through the modulation of inflammatory cytokine production, inhibition of prostaglandin E₂ and nitric oxide production, cellular inflammatory-related parameters, and inflammation in animal models. The potential anti-inflammatory signaling pathways modulated by Gynura species are glycogen synthase kinase-3, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, PPARγ, MAPK, NF-κB, and PI3K/Akt. However, most reports on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the plants were on crude extracts, and the chemical constituents contributing to bioactivities were not clearly understood. There is a variation in quality of studies in terms of design, conduct, and interpretation, and in-depth studies on the underlying mechanisms involved in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the plants are in demand. Moreover, there is limited clinical study on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Gynura species. Conclusion: This review highlighted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of genus Gynura and supported their traditional uses to treat oxidative stress and inflammatory-related diseases. This review is expected to catalyze further studies on genus Gynura. However, extensive preclinical data need to be generated from toxicity and pharmacokinetic studies before clinical studies can be pursued for their development into clinical medicines to treat oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions.

Phytochemical Analysis, In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activity of Piliostigma thonningii Leaf Extracts from Benin

The leaves of Piliostigma thonningii are used in traditional medicine in Benin to treat inflammatory skin diseases and infections. So far, pharmacological studies of the anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects of phytochemically characterized extracts of P. thonningii have been very limited. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect of P. thonningii leaf extracts and analyzed the phytochemical composition of extracts of different polarities (water, 50% ethanol, and n-hexane). Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside was confirmed as the main flavonoid in the polar extracts. GC-MS analysis identified 20 constituents of the aqueous extract and 28 lipophilic compounds of the n-hexane extract by comparison with authentic standards and spectral library data. The aqueous P. thonningii leaf extract inhibited the IL-8 and IL-6 secretion in TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT cells in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 74 µg/mL for IL-8 and 89 µg/mL for IL-6. However, an inhibitory effect of the identified quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and its aglycone, quercetin, on the release of IL-8 and IL-6 could not be demonstrated. In the antimicrobial screening, inhibition zones for a 50% EtOH leaf extract of P. thonningii were found for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. For none of the microbial strains, however, the MIC was below 500 µg/mL, so that the antibacterial activity must be classified as low. As a result, our investigations primarily support the ethnomedical use of P. thonningii leaf extracts in topical inflammatory conditions. Further studies are required to identify the compounds responsible for the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects.

Evidence for the involvement of IL-1β and TNF-α in anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidative stress profile of the standardized dried extract from Miconia albicans Sw. (Triana) Leaves (Melastomataceae)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Miconia albicans (Melastomataceae), commonly known in Brazil as "canela-de-velho", is used in folk medicine for treating rheumatoid arthritis and reducing pain and inflammation. THE AIM OF THE CURRENT WORK WAS: to provide data on physicochemical characterization of the drug plant and dried extract from M. albicans leaves, as well as investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant stress profile from the standardized dried extract of this species employing different model systems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

plant material (dried crushed leaves) was extracted by turboextraction using 50% ethanol (v/v). Different pharmacological techniques were performed to establish quality control parameters of the plant drug, and dried extract of M. albicans (DEMA) was chemically characterized by HPLC-PDA to selection of the chemical marker. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl₃ colorimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant potential of the DEMA was investigated by employing different in vitro antioxidant assays, including DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, ferric reducing antioxidant assay, NO scavenging assay, metal ion (Fe²⁺) chelating activity and antioxidant capacity by inhibition of lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Finally, anti-inflammatory activity of the DEMA was evaluated using two models of acute inflammation: carrageenan induced inflammation and mechanical hyperalgesia.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

M. albicans leaves, after drying in forced air circulation chamber at ±40 °C for 48 h and crushing in knife mill, presented a moisture content below the maximum allowed for plant drugs (6.4%). The powder of M. albicans was classified as moderately coarse and total ash content was found to be 6.27%. Preliminary phytochemical screening of DEMA revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, leucoanthocyanins and steroids. DEMA had significant higher total phenolic (551.3 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of dried extract) and flavonoid contents (367.19 mg catechin equivalent/g of dried extract). Two major compounds (λ = 340 nm) were identified in DEMA by HPLC-PDA: the flavonoids rutin and quercetin. Rutin content, selected as chemical marker, was determined and found to be 1.16 mg/g dried extract (r = 0.9941). Regarding to antioxidant activity, our results revealed the DEMA exhibited good antioxidant activity on different models. M. albicans treatment also reduced the levels of TNF-α e IL-1β and consequently inflammatory nociception and edema caused by carrageenan injection. Based on previous studies and our results, is possible to suggest a positive correlation between the flavonoids rutin and quercetin and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities.

CONCLUSION

Together, these data suggest that M. albicans has the possibility of use in conditions such as arthritis or other joint pain, even needing other work to better consolidate this profile.

Determination of Cassiarin A Level of Cassia siamea Leaf Obtained from Various Regions in Indonesia Using the TLC-Densitometry Method

Cassia siamea leaf has been proven in vitro and in vivo to have a strong antimalarial activity with Cassiarin A as its active compound. To obtain a source of C. siamea medicinal plant with high level of active antimalarial compound (Cassiarin A), a valid method for determining Cassiarin A level is needed. For this reason, this research conducts the validation of the Cassiarin A content with determination method using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) densitometry which includes the determination of selectivity (Rs), linearity (r), accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). Cassiarin A was chromatographed on silica gel 60 F254 TLC plate using chloroform : ethanol (85 : 15 v/v) as a mobile phase. Cassiarin A was quantified by densitometric analysis at 368 nm. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r = 0.9995. The method was validated for precision, recovery, repeatability. The minimum detectable amount was found to be 0.0027 μg/spot, whereas the limit of quantitation was found to be 0.008 μg/spot. The results of this validation are then used to determine the Cassiarin A level of C. siamea leaf from various regions in Indonesia. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the TLC-densitometry method can be used to determine level of the Cassiarin A compound with the advantages of being fast, easy, accurate, and inexpensive. In addition, it showed that C. siamea leaves from Pacitan have the highest level of Cassiarin A compared to other areas studied.

An Overview on Analytical Methods for Quantitative Determination of Aristolochic Acids

Background:

Aristolochic acids are chemically linked to nitrophenanthrene carboxylic acids which are found in aristolochia plants. These compounds are intrinsically carcinogenic, while they have been used in traditional medicine from a long time ago. Despite the beneficial effects of herbals for treating some diseases, they possess some side effects.

Methods:

Therefore, the development of a sensitive and selective procedure for the determination of these harmful components in various complicated samples is an important task for health systems and drug authorities. In the past years, ultra-pressure liquid chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis with different detection systems were used for determination of aristolochic acids in various samples.

Results:

In this review, different analytical methods have been discussed in brief and applications of them in diverse samples have been summarized.

Conclusion:

Different approaches are compared from point of sensitivity, selectivity, and extraction efficiency.

Phytochemical Markers: Classification, Applications and Isolation

BACKGROUND

There has been aroused demand for herbal drugs/products worldwide because of their fewer side effects as compared to synthetic drugs. The major obstacle in the global acceptance of herbal products is the lack of proper standardization technique.

METHODS

Various test procedures have been used for authentication and quality control of botanicals among which marker based standardization has attained more attention. The major challenge faced by phytochemist is to select appropriate phytochemical marker for quality control of herbal drugs. Phytochemical markers used for standardization must be of known purity. Phytochemical markers which are not commercially available have to be isolated from respective medicinal plants. Various chromatographic techniques are reported for the purification of phytomarkers from plants. A comprehensive report on different purification techniques of isolation of phytochemical markers through in-depth review of scientific literature is required.

CONCLUSION

This article highlights various classifications of phytochemical markers along with their applications in standardization of herbal drugs and various classical and modern analytical techniques for their isolation.

Classification of Andrographis paniculata extracts by solvent extraction using HPLC fingerprint and chemometric analysis

Objective

Andrographis paniculata, widely used as an antidiabetic in Indonesian traditional medicines (jamu), contains chemical compounds whose concentration is related to its therapeutic effects. The concentration of solvents used for extraction will also affect the number of compounds extracted. Therefore, a quality control method is needed to ensure consistency in quantifying these compounds in A. paniculata to improve its therapeutic application. High-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint analysis combined with chemometrics was used to evaluate extracts from different solvent extraction treatments. The content of andrographolide, the main bioactive compound in A. paniculata, and the level of α-glucosidase inhibition activity, an indicator of its antidiabetic activity, were also determined.

Results

Fingerprint chromatograms of A. paniculata extracts from different treatments exhibited a similar pattern with several peaks in common, only differing in area and intensity value. The A. paniculata extracts were classified using HPLC fingerprint and principal component analysis to allow grouping according to their respective solvent extraction treatments. The highest andrographolide content and α-glucosidase inhibition activity occurred in the 50% ethanol extract and the lowest in the water extract. HPLC fingerprint analysis could be used for identifying A. paniculata extracts based on solvent extraction, thus improving quality control for their therapeutic application.

A New Method for Determination of Thymol and Carvacrol in Thymi herba by Ultraperformance Convergence Chromatography (UPC2)

Ultraperformance convergence chromatography is an environmentally friendly analytical technique for dramatically reducing the use of organic solvents compared to conventional chromatographic methods. In this study, a rapid and sensitive ultraperformance convergence chromatography method was firstly established for quantification of thymol and carvacrol, two positional isomers of a major bioactive in the volatile oil of Thymi herba, the dried leaves and flowers of Thymus mongolicus or Thymus przewalskii, known in China as "Dijiao." Using a TrefoilTM CEL1 column, thymol and carvacrol were separated in less than 2.5 min and resolution was enhanced. The method was validated with respect to precision, accuracy, and linearity according to the National Medical Products Administration guidelines. The optimized method exhibited good linear correlation (r = 0.9998-0.9999), excellent precision (relative standard deviations (RSDs) < 1.50%), and acceptable recoveries (87.29-102.89%). The limits of detection for thymol and carvacrol were 1.31 and 1.57 ng/L, respectively, while their corresponding limits of quantification were 2.63 and 3.14 ng/L. Finally, the quantities of the two compounds present in 16 T. mongolicus and four T. przewalskii samples were successfully evaluated by employing the developed method. It is hoped that the results of this study will serve as a guideline for the quality control of Thymi herba.

Identification of quality control markers in Suhuang antitussive capsule based on HPLC-PDA fingerprint and anti-inflammatory screening

Suhuang antitussive capsule (SH), one of traditional Chinese patent medicines, has been widely used for treating cough variant asthma and postinfectious cough in clinic. The objective of this work is to identify the characteristic and active ingredients as the quality control markers for SH based on high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) fingerprint and screening of anti-inflammatory components. Similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to evaluate 16 different batches of SH. 13 compounds accounting for 36% of the total components in the fingerprint were identified and semi-quantitatively analyzed, which anti-inflammatory activity was tested with the in vitro assay. The results showed that the established chemical fingerprint could clearly distinguish different batches of SH by SA, HCA, and PCA analysis. Furthermore, four known compounds (chlorogenic acid, schisandrin, angeloylgomisin H and praeruptorin A) were screened out to be the most discriminant variables, which could be applied to quality control of SH by quantitative analysis. The semi-quantitative results showed that six compounds were major components, i.e. arctiin (10.28 ± 3.18 mg/g), ephedrine (9.26 ± 1.58 mg/g), schisandrin (3.09 ± 0.83 mg/g), pseudoephedrine (2.34 ± 1.04 mg/g), schisandrin B (1.48 ± 0.16 mg/g), and 1-caffeoylquinic acid (1.36 ± 0.42 mg/g). The anti-inflammatory results showed that SH extract, praeruptorin A, schisandrin, arctigenin and pseudoephedrine could significantly inhibit inflammatory mediator NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. These findings indicated that praeruptorin A, schisandrin, arctiin and pseudoephedrine could be proposed as the quality control markers for SH.

Combining untargeted and targeted metabolomics approaches for the standardization of polyherbal formulations through UPLC-MS/MS

INTRODUCTION

Polyherbal formulations are an integral part of various indigenous medicinal systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda. The presence of a very large number of compounds makes the quality control of polyherbal formulations very difficult.

OBJECTIVES

To overcome this problem, we have developed a comprehensive strategy for the dereplication of natural products in polyherbal formulations by using Adhatoda vasica as a case study.

METHODS

The strategy is based on five major steps: the collection of plant samples from different locations to observe the effects of environmental variables; LC-ESI-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolite profiling of the plant samples to identify marker compounds using extensive chemometric analysis of the obtained data; the identification of marker compounds in polyherbal products; the isolation, purification and characterization of the marker compounds; and MRM-based quantitative analysis of the isolated marker compounds using LC-ESI-MS/MS.

RESULTS

Using this strategy, we identified a total of 51 compounds in the methanolic extract of A. vasica plants from 14 accessions. Chemical fingerprinting of the plant led to the identification of characteristic peaks that were used to confirm the presence of A. vasica in complex polyherbal formulations. Four quinazoline alkaloids (marker compounds) were isolated, purified and quantified in various herbal formulations containing A. vasica.

CONCLUSION

This method demonstrates a comprehensive strategy based on untargeted and targeted metabolite analysis that can be used for the standardization of complex polyherbal formulations.

High-Throughput Immunological Analysis of Dictamni Cortex: Implication in the Quality Control of Herbal Medicine

Quality inconsistency of herbal medicine is an obstacle that limits the extensive use and study of traditional Chinese medicine. Differences in environmental conditions and processing methods of herbal medicine often result in varying clinical outcomes in patients. Standard chemical markers used for the quality control (QC) of herbal medicine are usually the most abundant and characteristic components, which may not be therapeutically relevant or cannot comprehensively reflect the biological quality of the herbs. In view of this, a novel QC method for better assessment of herbal medicine has been developed via bioactivities analysis. Immunological activities of Dictamni Cortex, a typical herbal medicine for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, from different geographical locations in China, were evaluated. Upon in vitro treatment of their water and ethanol extracts, distinct patterns of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-1β, and chemokine CXCL8 were released from the lipopolysaccharides- and/or phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Thus, in addition to the commonly used morphological, chemical, or DNA markers, the novel high-throughput profiling of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines of PBMC upon treatment with herbal extracts could be an important reference to help for the quality control of herbal medicine in the future.

Simultaneous quantification of six indicator compounds in Wen-Qing-Yin by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection

A simple gradient high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was used to simultaneously to analyze characteristics of six indicator compounds in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation Wen-Qing-Yin (WQY). Separate optimization was performed using a Cosmosil C18 column gradient method with 0.1% formic acid in both mobile phases of aqueous and acetonitrile (ACN), at a flow rate, detection wavelength, and sample volume of 1.8 mL/min, 268 nm, and 10 μL, respectively. The linear regression of six active compounds berberine (BER), baicalin (BAI), ferulic acid (FER), geniposide (GEN), hydorxymethoxylfurfural (HMF), and paeoniflorin (PAE) was produced at the concentration range of 10–2000 μg/mL. The method validation revealed an acceptable precision (intra- and inter-day precision < 3.39% and 4.11%, respectively) and recovery (85.60–110.45% and 86.58–110.90%), a recovery range of 86.61–109.42%, and sensitivity (limit of detection [LOD] and limit of quantification [LOQ] values were in the range of 0.03–3.13, and 0.08–9.38 μg/mL, respectively) while the calibration curves were linear with a correlation coefficient (R²) ranging from 0.9966 to 0.9989. The qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed by direct comparison of the peaks of the WCY extract to retention times of reference standards. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) successfully discriminated four purchased commercial samples of all six indicator constituents, and the present results indicate their comprehensive potential usefulness for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the WQY decoction and its commercial products.

Secondary Metabolite Mapping Identifies Peony Episperm Inhibitors of Human Hepatoma Cells

As the main by-product during the oil production of peony seeds, the episperm is traditionally used as a lead component in folk herbal formulas for the cancer treatment in China. However, the investigation of its phytochemical foundation underlying anticancer effects remains an ongoing challenge. The work therefore determined growth inhibition activities of 8 solvent extracts of peony episperms in the human liver cancer cell line. This activity was then mapped onto the secondary metabolite profile of extracts by principal components analysis (PCA). The top 3 principal components of High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)-PCA map discriminated extract activities mainly based on the differential content of 5 stilbene compounds, which were then tested individually. The trans-ε-viniferin, gnetin-H, suffruticosol A, suffruticosol B, and suffruticosol C were thus determined as growth inhibitors and apoptosis inducers of human liver cancer cells with activities comparable to that of the antineoplastic cisplatin. A partial least squares regression-HPLC model was also constructed for the prediction of inhibitory effects of peony episperm extracts. These results expand the fundamental understanding of the peony episperms and support its current medicinal uses in China. Moreover, PCA-mediated secondary metabolite mapping was proved to be an efficient approach to qualify biomedical products required for pharmaceutical and medicinal uses.

Quality Assessment of Commercial Spagyric Tinctures of Harpagophytum procumbens and Their Antioxidant Properties

Preparations from the dried tubers of Harpagophytum procumbens (Burch.) DC ex Meisn, commonly known as devil’s claw, are mainly used in modern medicine to relieve joint pain and inflammation in patients suffering from rheumatic and arthritic disorders. This paper describes for the first time the chemical profile of a commercial spagyric tincture (named 019) prepared from the roots of the plant. For comparison purposes, a commercial not-spagyric devil’s claw tincture (NST) was also analyzed. Chemical investigation of the content of specialized metabolites in the three samples indicated that harpagoside was the main compound, followed by the two isomers acteoside and isoacteoside. Compositional consistence over time was obtained by the chemical fingerprinting of another spagyric tincture (named 014) from the same producer that was already expired according to the recommendation on the label of the product. The two spagyric preparations did not show significant compositional differences as revealed by HPLC and MS analyses, except for a decrease in harpagide content in the expired 014 tincture. Moreover, their antioxidant capacities as assessed by 2,2’-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2.2’-azin-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) methods resulted in very similar IC50 values. The expired 014 tincture showed instead a lower IC50 value compared to the 019 and NST tinctures with the ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay, indicating a higher ferric-reducing antioxidant ability. Overall, these results indicated that the two preparations could generally maintain good stability and biological activity at least for the four years from the production to the expiration date.

Gut microbiota: a new angle for traditional herbal medicine research

Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) has been used for thousands of years, and is popular worldwide due to its effectiveness in a variety of diseases. THM has also formed the basis of the discovery of modern drugs like artemisinin and paclitaxel. However, at present, studies that focus on development in the field of THM are stagnant because currently, the effective ingredients in the herbal formulations and the ambiguity of the underlying mechanisms of action are unknown. In this review, we have investigated the studies available that focused on the efficacy, active ingredients and bioavailability of THM, and the function of gut microbiota in THM-mediated treatment of disease. We hypothesized that most THMs treat diseases via three mechanisms: (1) metabolizing into active metabolites by the action of gut microbiota, (2) regulation of gut microbiota balance, and (3) regulating the fermentation products of the gut microbes. Therefore, focusing on these aspects can help elucidate the pharmacodynamic constituents of THM preparations, and their therapeutic mechanisms of action.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Porana sinensis Hemsl by UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS, TLC autographic method and DART-MS

INTRODUCTION

Erycibe obtusifolia and E. schmidtii are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis. With the reduction of wild E. obtusifolia and E. schmidtii resources, Porana sinensis has been widely used as a substitute. However, few studies have been conducted on the chemical composition and quality control of P. sinensis.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the chemical composition and improve the quality control of P. sinensis.

METHODOLOGY

We developed an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation Q-Exactive Focus tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-Exactive Focus-MS/MS) method to characterise the chemical constituents of P. sinensis. A strategy based on a combination of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and direct analysis in real-time (DART) ion source was proposed for the identification of alkaloid components in P. sinensis. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) autography for 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH˙) and TLC bioautography for xanthine oxidase were used to rapidly screen marker compounds for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of P. sinensis. Based on the selected marker compounds, a HPLC method for the quantitative determination of eight marker compounds in P. sinensis was developed.

RESULTS

Eighteen compounds in P. sinensis were identified by UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS. Taken together with the results of TLC autography and TLC bioautography, eight compounds were chosen as marker compounds for HPLC determination of P. sinensis. The alkaloid components in P. sinensis were identified as Baogongteng A and Baogongteng C by DART-MS.

CONCLUSION

We systematically clarified the chemical composition of P. sinensis for the first time, and potentially improved its quality control. These results should promote the application of P. sinensis as a new resource for Caulis Erycibes.

Organic Certification is Not Enough: The Case of the Methoxydecane Frankincense

Frankincense, the oleo-gum-resin of Boswellia trees, has been an important religious and medicinal element for thousands of years, and today is used extensively for essential oils. One of the most popular frankincense species is Boswellia sacra Flueck. (syn. Boswellia carteri Birdw.) from Somalia and Somaliland. Recent increases in demand have led to many areas being overharvested, emphasizing the need for incentives and monitoring for sustainable harvesting, such as certification schemes. Concurrently, a new chemical component, called methoxydecane, has emerged in oils claimed to be B. carteri, suggesting the possibility of a chemical marker of overharvesting or other stress that could aid in monitoring. To find the source of this new chemical component, we sampled resin directly from trees in areas producing the new methoxydecane chemotype. This revealed that methoxydecane comes not from Boswellia carteri, but from a newly described frankincense species, Boswellia occulta. The presence of Boswellia occulta oil in essential oil sold as pure B. carteri, including certified organic oil, emphasizes the current lack of traceability in the supply chain and the ineffectiveness of organic certification to secure purity and sustainable harvesting in wildcrafted species.

Emerging Applications of Metabolomics in Traditional Chinese Medicine Treating Hypertension: Biomarkers, Pathways and More

Hypertension is a prevalent, complex, and polygenic cardiovascular disease, which is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Across the world, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constituted by herbal medicine and non-pharmacological therapies is used to assist blood pressure management. Though widely accepted in daily practice, its mechanism remains largely unknown. Recent years saw a number of studies utilizing metabolomics technologies to elucidate the biological foundation of the antihypertensive effect of TCM. Metabolomics is a relatively "young" omics approach that has gained enormous attention recently in cardiovascular drug discovery and pharmacology studies of natural products. In this review, we described the use of metabolomics in deciphering TCM diagnostic codes for hypertension and in revealing molecular events that drive the antihypertensive effect. By corroborating the diagnostic rules, there's accumulating evidence showing that metabolic profile could be the signature of different syndromes/patterns of hypertension, which offers new perspectives for disease diagnosis and efficacy optimization. Moreover, TCM treatment significantly altered the metabolic perturbations associated with hypertension, which could be a crucial mechanism of the therapeutic effect of TCM. Not only significantly rebalances the dynamics of metabolic flux, TCM but also elicits metabolic network reorganization through restoring the functions of key metabolites, and metabolic pathways. The role of TCM in regulating metabolic perturbations will be informative to researchers seeking new leads for drug discovery. This review further envisioned the promises of employing metabolomics to explore network pharmacology, host-gut microbiota interactions and metabolic reprogramming in TCM, and possible herb-drug interactions in this field in future.

Gut microbiota, a new frontier to understand traditional Chinese medicines

As an important component of complementary and alternative medicines, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are gaining more and more attentions around the world because of the powerful therapeutic effects and less side effects. However, there are still some doubts about TCM because of the questionable TCM theories and unclear biological active compounds. In recent years, gut microbiota has emerged as an important frontier to understand the development and progress of diseases. Together with this trend, an increasing number of studies have indicated that drug molecules can interact with gut microbiota after oral administration. In this context, more and more studies pertaining to TCM have paid attention to gut microbiota and have yield rich information for understanding TCM. After oral administration, TCM can interact with gut microbiota: (1) TCM can modulate the composition of gut microbiota; (2) TCM can modulate the metabolism of gut microbiota; (3) gut microbiota can transform TCM compounds. During the interactions, two types of metabolites can be produced: gut microbiota metabolites (of food and host origin) and gut microbiota transformed TCM compounds. In this review, we summarized the interactions between TCM and gut microbiota, and the pharmacological effects and features of metabolites produced during interactions between TCM and gut microbiota. Then, focusing on gut microbiota and metabolites, we summarized the aspects in which gut microbiota has facilitated our understanding of TCM. At the end of this review, the outlooks for further research of TCM and gut microbiota were also discussed.

Utility of alkaloids as chemical and biomarkers for quality, efficacy, and safety assessment of botanical ingredients

BACKGROUND

Selecting the appropriate chemical and bio-markers for monitoring the quality, efficacy, and safety is critical for efficient and reliable assessment of traditional medicines derived from botanical sources. Chemical markers have been implicated primarily in establishing the analytical methodologies aiming at verification of the botanical sources of the raw materials, the extracts, and the finished products such as botanical dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. In addition, they have been employed in differentiation between crude or raw (unprocessed) and processed plant extracts, and identification as well as determination of potential toxicants and adulterants in herbal medicines. Additionally, these chemical markers are utilized for selection of efficient methods for extraction of plants. Further, biomarkers have been exploited in determination of the pharmacokinetic properties of bioactive herbal constituents. Alkaloids, unlike other plant constituents, are uniquely characterized by having basic properties, and possessing substantial and diverse pharmacological effects. These features make alkaloids attractive components for functioning as chemical and biomarkers in determining the quality of botanical ingredients where this class of phytochemicals prevail or is responsible for lending biological effects.

PURPOSE

The aim of the review is to exhibit the function of alkaloids as biomarkers and chemical markers in the evaluation of quality, efficacy, and safety of medicinal herbs and their commercial products.

METHODS

Literature acquisition was accomplished using the most commonly accessed scholarly search engines including SciFinder, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Secondly, the full-texts which are relevant to the topic were included in this review. This was followed by a thorough and detailed analysis of the collected information.

RESULTS

The literature search with main emphasis on the roles of alkaloids in the evaluation of quality, efficacy and safety of herbal medicines was evaluated to provide all succinct information in one place. Compilation of such critical information is expected to help the reader to appreciate alkaloids as important markers in the quality control of herbal drugs and products.

CONCLUSION

The current review article covers the fundamental roles played by alkaloids as chemical and biomarkers in assessing the essential parameters of the quality of botanical ingredients, as briefly described earlier. The utilization of alkaloids as biomarkers to determine the efficacy-linked pharmacokinetic parameters is limited to reviewing studies on human subjects.

Recent Development of Quality Control Methods for Herbal Derived Drug Preparations

Pharmaceutical industries should apply rigorous QC (quality control) to ensure the consistency, safety, and efficacy of their herbal derived drug-preparations. QC must be performed at every stage of the production line i.e. incoming raw materials, extractions, in-process control, finished products and keeping samples. Due to the complex nature of the chemical content of herbal drugs, two approaches to QC should be taken, that is quantitative determination of the selected marker(s) compound(s), and metabolite profiling. Contamination of herbal medicines by heavy metals, pesticides, toxic metabolites, microbial toxins, pathogenic microorganisms and other foreign matter should also be evaluated. A combination of chemical profiling and multivariate analysis (MVA) is recommended as the QC tool for the botanical identification method (BIM) of herbs, extracts, herb materials, and herbal drug preparations. Microscopic methods, DNA profiling or chemical marker(s) are not recommended for use as the sole BIM due to the lack of specificity. Only markers that meet certain criteria i.e. quality active (QA) markers can be utilized as a QC tool. The limit specification range of markers used as QC tools should be described in the analytical target profile (ATP). To gain reliable results of any analysis that has been performed at any QC laboratory, the analysis method must be validated according to the newest guidance. Sample detection limit of any toxic compound(s) should be lower than its cut-off value and MPL. The reliability of any results of analysis of a QC laboratory must be evaluated by using QC-samples for each series of measurements.