Analysis of carboxylic acids of Crambe cordifolia Steven

HPLC-DAD assay of flavonoids and evaluation of antioxidant activity of some herbal mixtures

Medicinal plants and their combinations can influence various links of the pathogenetic mechanism of diabetes mellitus type 2 and its complications, due to the wide range of biologically active substance that they accumulate. Flavonoids deserve particular attention through their antioxidant properties. Three samples of herbal mixtures (sample 1 – Inula helenium rhizome with roots, Helichrysum arenarium flowers, Zea mays columns with stigmas, Origanum vulgare herb, Rosa majalis fruits, Taraxacum officinale roots; sample 2 – Cichorium intybus roots, Elymus repens rhizome, Helichrysum arenarium flowers, Rosa smajalis fruits, Zea mays columns with stigmas; sample 3 – Urtica dioica leaf, Taraxacum officinale roots, Vaccinium myrtillus leaf, Rosa majalis fruits, Mentha x Menthapiperita herb) were tested for flavonoid content and antioxidant properties.

Using HPLC-DAD analysis the content of flavonoids was evaluated and an antioxidant activity by DPPH-radicals scavenging, ferrous ion chelating capacity and ferric reducing power were established for the herbal mixtures. Rutin prevails in sample 3, its content was 2745.66±0.21 μg/g; luteolin – in samples 1 and 2, its content was 371.31±0.07 μg/g and 313.48±0.13 μg/g, respectively.

Flavonoids attribute to the antioxidant activity of the herbal mixtures, which was confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging assay, ferric reducing power assay and ferrous ion chelating assay. The highest antioxidant capacity was found for sample 3 – IC50 of inhibition of DPPH radicals was 301.65±2.67 µg/mL compared to control – ascorbic acid (119.24±2.35 µg/mL), the ferric reducing power was 0.382 at 100 µg/mL compared to ascorbic acid (0.412 at 100 µg/mL) and IC50 of chelating capacity was 206.59±2.48 µg/mL compared to EDTA-Na2 (110.55±1.93 µg/mL).

Determination of amino acids of plants from Angelica L. genus by HPLC method

One of the tasks of pharmaceutical science is to find new sources of effective drugs. Such sources include plants such as Angelica archangelica L. and Angelica sylvestris L., which have been used for many years to treat various diseases in folk medicine. Because the chemical composition of these plants is poorly understood, the aim of our study was to investigate the amino acid composition of the leaves of A. archangelica L. and A. sylvestris L. The amino acids of the leaves of the study species of the genus Angelica L. were determined by the HPLC method. Eighteen free and nineteen bound amino acids were identified in the leaves of A. archangelica L. The A. sylvestris L. leaves contained nineteen free and the same amount of bound amino acids. High concentrations of free and bound amino acids such as L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid predominate in A. archangelica L. and A. sylvestris L. This allowed these amino acids to be considered distinguishing markers of the study plants. Character metabolic processes in which these amino acids take part may be associated with the medicinal properties of these plants pursuant to their use in medicine and, therefore, may contribute to the insight of their therapeutic properties.

Determination of amino acids content of the Tagetes lucida Cav. by GC/MS

Plant raw materials are widely used for the prevention and treatment providing of many diseases. The interest is the in-depth research of the flowers, leaves, and herb of Tagetes lucida. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the content of primary metabolites, namely amino acids in the raw materials of this plant. The amino acids composition and content in flowers, leaves, and herb were determined by the GC/MS method. The results of the study revealed that the raw material of Tagetes lucida contains more bound and less free amino acids. Free and bound L-proline, L-isoleucine were present in all the analyzed samples in the greatest amount (1.909 mg/g and 20.999 mg/g, 0.804 mg/g and 18.908 mg/g in the flowers; 2.721 mg/g and 18.973 mg/g, 3.459 mg/g and 28.518 mg/g in the leaves; 6.436 mg/g and 18.817 mg/g, 0.245 mg/g and 0.222 mg/g in the herb). Another free amino acid with a high content in flowers (1.321 mg/g) and herb (0.825 mg/g) of Tagetes lucida was L-aspartic acid. In addition, high content of L-phenylalanine in bound form was found in the leaves (11.843 mg/g) of the study plant. These amino acids to be considered distinguishing markers of the Tagetes lucida. This research contributes to already known information of Tagetes lucida use as herbal medicine, nutraceutical, and food reinforcement.

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.

Determination of amino acids of some plants from Gentianaceae family

Medicines from plants are widely used in the complex treatment of different diseases every day. Therefore, theoretical and practical interest is the in-depth study of the herb of perspective plants like Centaurium erythraea Rafn. and Gentiana cruciata L. These plants have a long history of usage and interest of people. The aim of the study was to determine the content of amino acids in these plants. The amino acids composition and content in the herb of study species of the family Gentianaceae determined by the HPLC method. The results of the research revealed that the raw material of Centaurium erythraea Rafn. and Gentiana cruciata L. contains free and bound amino acids. Sixteen free and seventeen bound amino acids were identified in the herb of Centaurium erythraea Rafn. The herb of Gentiana cruciata L. contained thirteen free and fifteen bound amino acids. L-glutamic acid, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, and L-cystine were predominant of Centaurium erythraea Rafn. herb. Amino acids L-lysine, L-serine, L-aspartic acid, and L-phenylalanine were present in the herb of Gentiana cruciata L. in the greatest amount. The metabolic processes in which these amino acids are involved connected to the medicinal properties of the study plants according to their use in official or nontraditional medicine.

Analysis of carbohydrates in Saponaria officinalis L. using GC/MS method

Saponaria officinalis L. (common soapwort), usually named fuller’s herb, is encountered in most of Europe, in Spain, France, Italy, for example, and also in Syria and North Africa. Saponaria officinalis L. is known in most of the world as an introduced species, often a weed, and sometimes as cultivated decorative plant. Saponaria officinalis contains a large amount of saponins, which foam during extraction with water. In addition to saponins, common soapwort also contains flavonoids, quillaic acid, fatty acids and different phenolic compounds. There is a lack of information about carbohydrates content of common soapwort. Thus the aim of this study was to determine the content of carbohydrates Saponaria officinalis L. herb and roots. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of carbohydrates in herb and roots of Saponaria officinalis L. were determined by using GC/MS method. The studies have shown that Saponaria officinalis L. herb is mainly composed of free carbohydrates such as D-glucose (3.65 mg/g), D-galactose (0.29 mg/g), D-fructose (0.20 mg/g) and D-saccharose (3.72 mg/g). In common soapwort herb, after acidic hydrolysis and derivatization with acetylated aldononitriles, D-arabinose, D-fucose, D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-fructose and Myo-inositol were identified. Free carbohydrates in the roots of Saponaria officinalis L., including D-glucose, D-galactose and D-saccharose, were determined with GC/MS method too. D-saccharose was common among free carbohydrates of Saponaria officinalis L. in the largest amounts. Its content in herb and roots of the common soapwort was 3.72 mg/g and 25.39 mg/g respectively.