Determination of fatty acid composition content in the herbal antidiabetic collections

Exploring Folklore Ecuadorian Medicinal Plants and Their Bioactive Components Focusing on Antidiabetic Potential: An Overview

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern characterized by a deficiency in insulin production. Considering the systemic toxicity and limited efficacy associated with current antidiabetic medications, there is the utmost need for natural, plant-based alternatives. Herbal medicines have experienced exponential growth in popularity globally in recent years for their natural origins and minimal side effects. Ecuador has a rich cultural history in ethnobotany that plays a crucial role in its people's lives. This study identifies 27 Ecuadorian medicinal plants that are traditionally used for diabetes treatment and are prepared through infusion, decoction, or juice, or are ingested in their raw forms. Among them, 22 plants have demonstrated hypoglycemic or anti-hyperglycemic properties that are rich with bioactive phytochemicals, which was confirmed in several in vitro and in vivo studies. However, Bryophyllum gastonis-bonnieri, Costus villosissimus, Juglans neotropica, Pithecellobium excelsum, and Myroxylon peruiferum, which were extensively used in traditional medicine preparation in Ecuador for many decades to treat diabetes, are lacking in pharmacological elucidation. The Ecuadorian medicinal plants used to treat diabetes have been found to have several bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolics, fatty acids, aldehydes, and terpenoids that are mainly responsible for reducing blood sugar levels and oxidative stress, regulating intestinal function, improving insulin resistance, inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase, lowering gluconeogenic enzymes, stimulating glucose uptake mechanisms, and playing an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. However, there is a substantial lack of integrated approaches between the existing ethnomedicinal practices and pharmacological research. Therefore, this review aims to discuss and explore the traditional medicinal plants used in Ecuador for treating DM and their bioactive phytochemicals, which are mainly responsible for their antidiabetic properties. We believe that the use of Ecuadorian herbal medicine in a scientifically sound way can substantially benefit the local economy and industries seeking natural products.

Investigation of amino acids content in the herb and tubers of Stachys sieboldii

The aim of this research was the comparative study of the content of the amino acids in the herb and tubers of Stachys sieboldii. The study of the amino acid composition of the raw materials was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results obtained have shown that the aerial parts of plants investigated have higher amino acid content than the underground organs. Free and bound L-aspartic acid, L-proline, and L-phenylalanine were present in the analyzed samples in the greatest amount. Moreover, L-cysteine was found only in Stachys sieboldii tubers in amounts (8.11 mg/g). This research established that Stachys sieboldii herb and tubers have the most suitable amino acids composition and are prospective for further pharmacological studies.

Quantitative analysis of fatty acids and monosaccharides composition in Chamerion angustifolium L. by GC/MS method

Chamaenerion angustifolium L. widely known as fireweed, has significant natural resources in Ukraine. It has long been used in folk medicine as a sedative, analgesic, astringent, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antisclerotic, wound healing, and diaphoretic agent. These properties are the result of the availability of many groups of biologically active compounds such as flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins, ascorbic acid, polyphenols, macro- and microelements. The aim of the study was to determine the content of fatty acids and monosaccharides of the herb. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of these biologically active compounds were determined using a GC/MS method. The results of the analysis showed that the herb of fireweed has monosaccharides, such as D-ribose, D-arabinose, D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose, and Myo-inositol. D-glucose presented in raw materials in the highest amount, it is content in the herb was 11.23 mg/kg. Among fatty acids, the mono-, polyunsaturated and saturated acids were determined. The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the total fatty acids was 53.19%, monounsaturated – 4.92%, and saturated – 41.89%. Linolenic, palmitic, and linoleic acids dominated among the determined twelve fatty acids, their content was 1.82 mg/kg, 1.74 mg/kg, and 1.10 mg/g.

Analysis of carbohydrates content in the plant components of antidiabetic herbal mixture by GC-MS

Medicinal plants and their combinations due to the wide range of biologically active substances can influence on various links of the pathogenetic mechanism of development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. One of such combinations is an antidiabetic herbal mixture (Urticae folia, Rosae frucrus, Myrtilli folia, Menthae folia and Taraxaci radices) with established hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, pancreatoprotective activity in previous pharmacological study in vivo. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify and establish the content of carbohydrates in free and bound form in the plant components of antidiabetic herbal mixture. The carbohydrates were separated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after conversion into volatile derivatives as aldononitrile acetate. The monomeric composition of polysaccharides was studied after their hydrolysis to form monosaccharides and polyalcohols. The results of the quantitative study showed that the predominant carbohydrate in free form was saccharose in Urticae folia, L-fructose in Myrtilli folia, Rosae frucrus, Taraxaci radices and Menthae folia, L-glucose in Rosae frucrus. Concerning the determination of monomers of polysaccharides after hydrolysis, L-glucose prevailed in all plant components of antidiabetic herbal mixture. The chromatographic study revealed a number of polyalcohols that are important for the treatment and prevention of progression of diabetes mellitus and its complications, namely, mannitol and myo-inositol.

Analysis of inulin and fructans in Taraxacum officinale L. roots as the main inulin-containing component of antidiabetic herbal mixture

Herbs and their combinations due to the wide range of biologically active substances can influence on various links of the pathogenetic mechanism of development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. One of such combinations is an antidiabetic herbal mixture with established hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, pancreatoprotective activity in previous pharmacological study in vivo that including an inulin-containing component – Taraxacum officinale L. roots. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the quantitative content of inulin and fructans in Taraxacum officinale L. Quantity content of inulin was determined by the difference between fructose as a product of enzymatic hydrolysis and D-fructose, a constituent of sucrose and free D-fructose, taking into account the empirical factor for the conversion of D-fructose from inulin. Carbohydrates used in the calculation of inulin were separated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after conversion into volatile derivatives as aldononitrile acetate. According to the results, Taraxacum officinale L. roots contain 436.29 mg/g of inulin. Total content of fructans was determined by spectrophotometric analysis as a product of acid hydrolysis of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural. The results show that Taraxacum officinale L. roots contain 39.49% of fructans. The obtained results are evidence that this plant component should be included in the herbal antidiabetic mixture, because due to the presence of fructans and inulin causes hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and detoxification activity.

Analysis of fatty acid composition content in the plant components of antidiabetic herbal mixture by GC-MS

Medical plants and their combinations due to the wide range of biologically active substances can influence on various links of the pathogenetic mechanism of development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. One of such combinations is an anidiabetic herbal mixture (Urtica dioica L. leaf, Rosa majalis L. fruits, Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaf, Mentha piperita L. herb and Taraxacum officinale L. roots) with established hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, pancreatoprotective activity in previous pharmacological study in vivo. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify and establish the fatty acid content in the plant components of antidiabetic herbal mixture. Fatty acids were separated by validated method of of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after conversion into methyl esters. The result showed that Urtica dioica L. leaf and Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaf contain 12 fatty acids (8 saturated, 2 monounsaturated and 2 polyunsaturated), Rosa majalis L. fruits and Taraxacum officinale L. roots – 13 fatty acids (9 saturated, 2 monounsaturated and 2 polyunsaturated) and Mentha piperita L. herb – 14 fatty acids (10 saturated, 2 monounsaturated and 2 polyunsaturated). The predominant long-chain carboxylic acids in all plant raw materials were unsaturated fatty acids, their content was 55.3% in Urtica dioica L. leaf, 64.7% in Rosa majalis L. fruits, 60.5% in Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaf, 64.3% in Mentha piperita L. herb and 51.7% in Taraxacum officinale L. roots. This indicates the feasibility of including each component in the antidiabetic herbal mixture in order to form anticholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective activity, due to the high content of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids.

Determination of amino acids content in two samples of the plant mixtures by GC-MS

Due to the wide range of biologically active substances, the plant mixtures can influence the development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Amino acids attract particular attention due to their ability to stimulate insulin secretion, reduce hyperglycemia and regulate metabolic processes in patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the content of amino acids in the plant mixture samples: 1) Cichorium intybus roots, Elymus repens rhizome, Helichrysum arenarium flowers, Rosa majalis fruits, Zea mays columns with stigmas, 2) Urtica dioica leaf, Taraxacum officinale roots, Vaccinium myrtillus leaf, Rosa majalis fruits, Mentha piperita herb, which have proven antidiabetic activity in studies in vivo. The amino acids were separated by validated method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with pre-column derivatisation. Quantitative analyses of amino acids showed that the predominant components were L-proline in the sample 1 and L-leucine and L-proline in the sample 2 of the plant mixtures.

Determination of inulin in the herbal mixtures by GC-MS method

The herbal mixtures due to the wide range of biologically active substances can influence on various links of the pathogenetic mechanism of development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. The carbohydrates, especially inulin, deserve the particular attention through their hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anticholesterolemic and detoxifying activities. The aim of the study was to investigate the content of inulin in the herbal mixtures No. 3, No. 4, No. 7, No. 13 and No. 19, which are used in folk medicine for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 in Ukraine. The quantity content of inulin was defined by the difference between fructose as a product of enzymatic hydrolysis and fructose, a constituent of sucrose and free fructose, taking into account the empirical factor for the conversion of fructose from inulin. The carbohydrates were separated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after conversion into volatile derivatives as aldononitrile acetate. According to the results, the herbal mixture No. 3 contains 458.97 mg/g of inulin, the herbal mixture No. 4 – 99.21 mg/g, the herbal mixture No. 7 – 139.93 mg/g, the herbal mixture No. 13 – 203.84 mg/g, the herbal mixture No. 19 – 359.65 mg/g. The availability of inulin and its high content in the investigated herbal mixtures due to the presence of inulin-containing medicinal plants, such as Cichorium intubus roots (mixtures No. 3 and No. 13), Taraxacum officinale roots (mixtures No. 3, No. 7 and No. 19), Arctium lappa roots (mixture No. 4), Inula helenium rhizome with roots (mixture No. 7).