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

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).

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.

HPLC-DAD assay of phenols profile in Antennaria dioica (L.) Gaertn

Antennaria dioica (Asteraceae family) – is a perennial herb, commonly found in dry grasslands and sandy or stony places from Eurasian areas. It is known in traditional medicine as antioxidant, diuretic, choleretic and anti-inflammatory remedy. This species should be reconsidered as possible sources of phenols, mainly flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids. Thus, the aim of this study was to validate a chromatographic method for detection of phenols and their identification in A. dioica herb. HPLC-DAD method was evaluated in terms of linearity, precision, repeatability, accuracy, LOD and LOQ. The calibration curves of thirteen reference substances were linear (R2 > 0.99) over the range of 5–400 µg/mL, the LODs and the LOQs were in the range of 0.1–0.3 µg/mL and 0.2–1.0 µg/mL, respectively. During HPLC-DAD assay two flavones – luteolin, apigenin; flavonol – quercetin and three its glycosides – rutin, hyperoside and isoquercitrin; coumarins: coumarin and umbelliferone; five hydroxycinnamic acids – chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric, trans-ferulic and rosmarinic were identified in A. dioica herb. This phytochemical study of A. dioica confirms that this plant material is a rich source of phenolic compounds.

HPLC-FLD analysis of amino acids content in Chrysanthemum morifolium

Chrysanthemum morifolium (Asteraceae family) have long been used as a tonic, antioxidant, antipyretic, analgesic, sedative, antitumor, neuroprotector, hepatoprotector and cardioprotector agent. This species should be reconsidered as possible sources of many biocompounds, especially amino acids. Thus, the aim of this study was to validate the chromatographic method for detection of amino acids and their identification in flowers and leaves of Ch. morifolium of variant Pectoral. HPLC-FLD method was evaluated in terms of linearity, precision, repeatability, accuracy, LOD and LOQ. The calibration curves of all analytical standards of amino acids were linear (R2 > 0.99) over the range of 0.015–0.625 μmol/mL, the LODs and the LOQs were in the range of 0.001–0.096 µg/mL and 0.004–0.321 µg/mL, respectively. During the HPLC-FLD assay ten amino acids in free form and fifteen amino acids after hydrolysis in Ch. morifolium flowers were identified. Besides, twelve amino acids were detected in free form and fourteen amino acids after hydrolysis in Ch. morifolium leaves. The results of HPLC-FLD analysis showed that the predominant amino acid was L-proline in both types of herbal raw materials. Its total content was 31.67±0.02 μg/mg in Ch. morifolium flowers and 18.56±0.02 μg/mg in Ch. morifolium leaves. This phytochemical study confirms that flowers and leaves of Ch. morifolium (Pectoral) are rich sources of amino acids and can exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities.

Analysis of amino acids content in the plant components of the 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 DM type 2 and its complications. One of such combinations is an antidiabetic herbal mixture (Urticae folia, Rosae fructus, Myrtilli folia, Menthae folia and Taraxaci radices) with established hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, pancreatoprotective activity in previous pharmacological studies in vivo and in vitro and defined phytochemical composition. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify and establish the content of amino acids in the plant components of antidiabetic herbal mixture. The amino acids were separated by GC-MS method with pre-column derivatization. The calibration curves of twenty CRS of amino acids were linear (R2 > 0.98) over the range of 1–100 µg/mL, the LODs and the LOQs were in the range of 0.01–0.07 µg/mL and 0.02–0.20 µg/mL, respectively. The results of analysis showed that the predominant essential amino acid was L-proline in Taraxaci radices, Urticae folia, Rosae fructus and Menthae folia, its total content was 101.46 mg/g, 25.31 mg/g, 23.04 mg/g and 19.30 mg/g, respectively. In addition, it was established total content of essential amino acid – L-leucine that can stimulate insulin secretion in β-cells of the pancreas. Its total content was 58.51 mg/g in Taraxaci radices, 9.58 mg/g in Myrtilli folia, 4.68 mg/g in Rosae fructus, 2.99 mg/g in Urticae folia and 0.79 mg/g in Menthae folia. Chromatographic examination also revealed L-phenylalanine, an essential amino acid important for antidiabetic therapy that can increase insulin secretion, stimulate proliferation and neogenesis of β-cells of the pancreas and reduce insulin resistance. Its total content was 13.42 mg/g in Myrtilli folia, 2.23 mg/g in Rosae fructus, 1.478 mg/g in Urticae folia, 1.46 mg/g in Taraxaci radices and 0.52 mg/g in Menthae folia. This phytochemical study shows, which plant material forms the amino acid composition and content in the finished herbal mixture and due to which biologically active substances the antidiabetic activity of this phytocomposition is manifested.