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Shahzadi Z, Yousaf Z, Anjum I, Bilal M, Yasin H, Aftab A, Booker A, Ullah R, Bari A. Network pharmacology and molecular docking: combined computational approaches to explore the antihypertensive potential of Fabaceae species. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2024; 11:53. [PMID: 38767701 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-024-00764-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypertension is a major global public health issue, affecting quarter of adults worldwide. Numerous synthetic drugs are available for treating hypertension; however, they often come with a higher risk of side effects and long-term therapy. Modern formulations with active phytoconstituents are gaining popularity, addressing some of these issues. This study aims to discover novel antihypertensive compounds in Cassia fistula, Senna alexandrina, and Cassia occidentalis from family Fabaceae and understand their interaction mechanism with hypertension targeted genes, using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Total 414 compounds were identified; initial screening was conducted based on their pharmacokinetic and ADMET properties, with a particular emphasis on adherence to Lipinski's rules. 6 compounds, namely Germichrysone, Benzeneacetic acid, Flavan-3-ol, 5,7,3',4'-Tetrahydroxy-6, 8-dimethoxyflavon, Dihydrokaempferol, and Epiafzelechin, were identified as effective agents. Most of the compounds found non-toxic against various indicators with greater bioactivity score. 161 common targets were obtained against these compounds and hypertension followed by compound-target network construction and protein-protein interaction, which showed their role in diverse biological system. Top hub genes identified were TLR4, MMP9, MAPK14, AKT1, VEGFA and HSP90AA1 with their respective associates. Higher binding affinities was found with three compounds Dihydrokaempferol, Flavan-3-ol and Germichrysone, -7.1, -9.0 and -8.0 kcal/mol, respectively. The MD simulation results validate the structural flexibility of two complexes Flavan-MMP9 and Germich-TLR4 based on no. of hydrogen bonds, root mean square deviations and interaction energies. This study concluded that C. fistula (Dihydrokaempferol, Flavan-3-ol) and C. occidentalis (Germichrysone) have potential therapeutic active constituents to treat hypertension and in future novel drug formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Shahzadi
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zubaida Yousaf
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Irfan Anjum
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- Centers for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hamna Yasin
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Arusa Aftab
- Department of Botany, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW, UK.
- Research Group 'Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy', UCL School of Pharmacy, Univ. London, 29 - 39 Brunswick Sq., London, WC1N 1AX, UK.
| | - Riaz Ullah
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy King, Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Bari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy King, Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Gancitano G, Mucci N, Stange R, Ogal M, Vimalanathan S, Sreya M, Booker A, Hadj-Cherif B, Albrich WC, Woelkart-Ardjomand K, Kreft S, Vanden Berghe W, Hoexter G, Schapowal A, Johnston SL. Echinacea Reduces Antibiotics by Preventing Respiratory Infections: A Meta-Analysis (ERA-PRIMA). Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:364. [PMID: 38667040 PMCID: PMC11047471 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13040364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the leading cause of antibiotic prescriptions, primarily due to the risk for secondary bacterial infections. In this study, we examined whether Echinacea could reduce the need for antibiotics by preventing RTIs and their complications, and subsequently investigated its safety profile. A comprehensive search of EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane DARE and clinicaltrials.gov identified 30 clinical trials (39 comparisons) studying Echinacea for the prevention or treatment of RTIs in 5652 subjects. Echinacea significantly reduced the monthly RTI occurrence, risk ratio (RR) 0.68 (95% CI 0.61-0.77) and number of patients with ≥1 RTI, RR = 0.75 [95% CI 0.69-0.81] corresponding to an odds ratio 0.53 [95% CI 0.42-0.67]. Echinacea reduced the risk of recurrent infections (RR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.46-0.80), RTI complications (RR = 0.44; 95% CI 0.36-0.54) and the need for antibiotic therapy (RR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.39-0.93), with total antibiotic therapy days reduced by 70% (IRR = 0.29; 95% CI 0.11-0.74). Alcoholic extracts from freshly harvested Echinacea purpurea were the strongest, with an 80% reduction of antibiotic treatment days, IRR 0.21 [95% CI 0.15-0.28]. An equal number of adverse events occurred with Echinacea and control treatment. Echinacea can safely prevent RTIs and associated complications, thereby decreasing the demand for antibiotics. Relevant differences exist between Echinacea preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Gancitano
- 1st Carabinieri Paratrooper Regiment “Tuscania”, Italian Ministry of Defence, 57127 Livorno, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Nicola Mucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Rainer Stange
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Mercedes Ogal
- Pediatric Clinic Brunnen, 6440 Brunnen, Switzerland;
| | - Selvarani Vimalanathan
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; (S.V.); (M.S.)
| | - Mahfuza Sreya
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; (S.V.); (M.S.)
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Group for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1B 2HW, UK; (A.B.); (B.H.-C.)
- Research Group ‘Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy’, UCL School of Pharmacy, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Bushra Hadj-Cherif
- Research Group for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1B 2HW, UK; (A.B.); (B.H.-C.)
| | - Werner C. Albrich
- Division of Infectious Disease, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, Cantonal Hospital, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Karin Woelkart-Ardjomand
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Samo Kreft
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubliana, Slovenia;
| | - Wim Vanden Berghe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Godehard Hoexter
- Statistical Consulting Godehard Hoexter, 79100 Freiburg, Germany;
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Dar NJ, Bhat SA, Rehman MU, Booker A. Editorial: Investigating the molecular targets and therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in various pathophysiological conditions. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1187334. [PMID: 37201022 PMCID: PMC10185912 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1187334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nawab John Dar
- School of Medicine, UT Health, San Antonio, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Nawab John Dar,
| | | | | | - Anthony Booker
- School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
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Ichim MC, Scotti F, Booker A. Quality evaluation of commercial herbal products using chemical methods. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:4219-4239. [PMID: 36315039 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2140120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Herbal products comprise a wide spectrum of locally, nationally or internationally commercialized commodities. As these products have an increasingly important position in healthcare systems worldwide, a detailed product quality assessment is of crucial importance. For the quality evaluation of commercial herbal products, a wide range of methods were used, from simpler, quicker, and cost-effective HPTLC, to hyphenated methods with MS or NMR, where more precise quantification or specific structural information is required. Additionally, most of the methods have been coupled with chemometric tools, such as PCA, or PDA, for the multivariate analysis of the high amount of data generated by chromatograms, electropherograms or spectra. The chemical methods have revealed the widespread presence of low or variable quality herbal products in the marketplace. The majority of analytical investigations present major, qualitative and quantitative, inter-product variations of their chemical composition, ranging from missing ingredients, to strikingly and unnaturally high concentrations of some compounds. Moreover, the inter-batch quality variations were frequently reported, as well as the presence of some undesirable substances. The chemical analysis of herbal products is a vital component to raise the overall awareness of quality in the herbal market and generate a quality driven approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihael Cristin Ichim
- "Stejarul" Research Centre for Biological Sciences, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Piatra Neamt, Romania
| | - Francesca Scotti
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Group, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
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Tsou WH, Heinrich M, Booker A. Chinese and western herbal medicines for the topical treatment of psoriasis – A critical review of efficacy and safety. J Herb Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Booker A. Editorial: Overcoming the Challenges of Herbal Adulteration in a Globalized World. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:793616. [PMID: 34880769 PMCID: PMC8645930 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.793616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Booker
- Research Group for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom.,Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Scotti F, Mou L, Huang C, Booker A, Weckerle C, Maake C, Heinrich M. Treating Chronic Wounds Using Photoactive Metabolites: Data Mining the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for Potential Lead Species. Planta Med 2021; 87:1206-1218. [PMID: 34528222 PMCID: PMC8585569 DOI: 10.1055/a-1578-8778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Efficient wound treatment that addresses associated infections and inflammation remains one of the big unmet needs, especially in low- and middle-income countries. One strategy for securing better healthcare can be using medicinal plants if sufficient evidence on their safety and therapeutic benefits can be ascertained. A unique novel opportunity could be photo-enhanced wound treatment with a combination of light-sensitive plant preparations and local exposure to daylight. Data mining strategies using existing resources offer an excellent basis for developing such an approach with many potential plant candidates. In the present analysis, we researched the 535 botanical drugs included in the Chinese pharmacopeia and identified 183 medicinal plant species, 82 for treating open wounds caused by trauma and 101 for inflammatory skin conditions. After further screening for reports on the presence of known photoactive compounds, we determined a core group of 10 scientifically lesser-known botanical species that may potentially be developed into more widely used topical preparations for photodynamic treatment of infected wounds. Our predictive approach may contribute to developing a more evidence-based use of herbal medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Scotti
- Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Linru Mou
- Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Chen Huang
- Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster. London, UK
| | - Caroline Weckerle
- Institute of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Maake
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
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Woodley SB, Mould RR, Sahuri-Arisoylu M, Kalampouka I, Booker A, Bell JD. Mitochondrial Function as a Potential Tool for Assessing Function, Quality and Adulteration in Medicinal Herbal Teas. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:660938. [PMID: 33981240 PMCID: PMC8107435 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.660938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Quality control has been a significant issue in herbal medicine since herbs became widely used to heal. Modern technologies have improved the methods of evaluating the quality of medicinal herbs but the methods of adulterating them have also grown in sophistication. In this paper we undertook a comprehensive literature search to identify the key analytical techniques used in the quality control of herbal medicine, reviewing their uses and limitations. We also present a new tool, based on mitochondrial profiling, that can be used to measure medicinal herbal quality. Besides being fundamental to the energy metabolism required for most cellular activities, mitochondria play a direct role in cellular signalling, apoptosis, stress responses, inflammation, cancer, ageing, and neurological function, mirroring some of the most common reasons people take herbal medicines. A fingerprint of the specific mitochondrial effects of medicinal herbs can be documented in order to assess their potential efficacy, detect adulterations that modulate these effects and determine the relative potency of batches. Furthermore, through this method it will be possible to assess whole herbs or complex formulas thus avoiding the issues inherent in identifying active ingredients which may be complex or unknown. Thus, while current analytical methods focus on determining the chemical quality of herbal medicines, including adulteration and contamination, mitochondrial functional analysis offers a new way of determining the quality of plant derived products that is more closely linked to the biological activity of a product and its potential clinical effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven B Woodley
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rhys R Mould
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Meliz Sahuri-Arisoylu
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom.,Health Innovation Ecosystem, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ifigeneia Kalampouka
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom.,Research Group 'Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy', UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jimmy D Bell
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
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Heinrich M, Jiang H, Scotti F, Booker A, Walt H, Weckerle C, Maake C. Medicinal plants from the Himalayan region for potential novel antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory skin treatments. J Pharm Pharmacol 2021; 73:956-967. [PMID: 33886964 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgab039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Adequate treatment of wounds remains one of the major medical needs globally, most notably in the regions with poor or limited access to health care. In many local and traditional systems of medicine, plants are often widely used for treating infected wounds. AIM AND OBJECTIVES The overarching aim of this project was selection of potential species for use in a future treatment by combining with plant resources with aspects of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). Specifically, we focussed on species used locally in the Himalayan region for the treatment of skin disorders and then assessed the existing pharmacological evidence for key species based on the published evidence available. METHODS Database searches were performed to identify relevant publications describing local and traditional uses of plants in the Himalayan region of Bhutan, PR China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), species were researched in terms of their distribution including in different climatic regions, focussing on species mostly found in higher climatic zones (based on the Köppen-Geiger climate classification). For species used in three or more countries and restricted to the higher altitudes, data on safety, pharmacology, as it relates to dermatological conditions, and phytochemistry were retrieved. KEY FINDINGS The study identified a total of 606 species that are used in the treatment of various skin conditions often associated with infections reported in 84 articles. Common weeds like Ageratum conyzoides and Bidens pilosa, widely used and cultivated species like Centealla asiatiaca and Prunus armenica were excluded. This ultimately led to the identification of a core group of five widely used species restricted to the Himalayan region (Cedrus deodara, Nardostachys jatamansi, Pinus wallichiana, Pinus roxburghii and Valeriana jatamansi). CONCLUSIONS Here we apply a novel approach comprising an assessment of the published information on the use of medicinal plants (i.e. local and traditional knowledge) in the context of their potential to be used in a biomedical form of clinical treatment - aPDT. Then, once sustainable sourcing based on access and benefit-sharing arrangements is in place, these species are investigated for their potential in wound treatment. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a new baseline for primary health care in some of the regions of the world with poor or limited access to health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Heinrich
- Research Group 'Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy', UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK.,'Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine', and 'Chinese Medicine Research Center', China Medical University, Beitun District, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Haiping Jiang
- Research Group 'Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy', UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Francesca Scotti
- Research Group 'Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy', UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Group 'Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy', UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK.,Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Heinrich Walt
- Department for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Weckerle
- Institute of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Maake
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Ichim MC, Booker A. Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:666850. [PMID: 33935790 PMCID: PMC8082499 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.666850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihael Cristin Ichim
- “Stejarul” Research Centre for Biological Sciences, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Piatra Neamt, Romania
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
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Fitzgerald M, Heinrich M, Booker A. Medicinal Plant Analysis: A Historical and Regional Discussion of Emergent Complex Techniques. Front Pharmacol 2020; 10:1480. [PMID: 31998121 PMCID: PMC6962180 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of medicinal plants has had a long history, and especially with regard to assessing a plant's quality. The first techniques were organoleptic using the physical senses of taste, smell, and appearance. Then gradually these led on to more advanced instrumental techniques. Though different countries have their own traditional medicines China currently leads the way in terms of the number of publications focused on medicinal plant analysis and number of inclusions in their Pharmacopoeia. The monographs contained within these publications give directions on the type of analysis that should be performed, and for manufacturers, this typically means that they need access to more and more advanced instrumentation. We have seen developments in many areas of analytical analysis and particularly the development of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and the hyphenation of these techniques. The ability to process data using multivariate analysis software has opened the door to metabolomics giving us greater capacity to understand the many variations of chemical compounds occurring within medicinal plants, allowing us to have greater certainty of not only the quality of the plants and medicines but also of their suitability for clinical research. Refinements in technology have resulted in the ability to analyze and categorize plants effectively and be able to detect contaminants and adulterants occurring at very low levels. However, advances in technology cannot provide us with all the answers we need in order to deliver high-quality herbal medicines and the more traditional techniques of assessing quality remain as important today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Fitzgerald
- Herbal and East Asian Medicine, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Booker
- Herbal and East Asian Medicine, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
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Frommenwiler DA, Booker A, Vila R, Heinrich M, Reich E, Cañigueral S. Comprehensive HPTLC fingerprinting as a tool for a simplified analysis of purity of ginkgo products. J Ethnopharmacol 2019; 243:112084. [PMID: 31306695 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Herbal medicinal products based on ginkgo leaf refined dry extract (GBE) are an European development from the Eastern Asia traditionally used species Ginkgo biloba L. Nowadays, ginkgo products have increased the presence in the market, mainly as dietary supplements. Its adulteration with rutin and quercetin or herbal extracts rich in these compounds is a common practice. Tests featuring assays and detection of adulterants need to be performed on top of other existent methods (e.g. identification test). This may increase the costs of evaluating the quality of ginkgo products. AIM OF THE STUDY To prove that comprehensive HPTLC fingerprinting can provide information beyond identification of ginkgo products, avoiding additional chromatographic tests for detection of adulterations. MATERIALS AND METHODS The information contained in the fingerprint obtained by HPTLC analysis of flavonoids was used for identification and for detection of adulterants, as well as to verify the limits of rutin and quercetin, which are normally determined by HPLC and used for detection of adulterants. For this purpose, peak profiles were generated from HPTLC chromatogram images. USP-HPLC methods were used for quantification of total flavonoids and testing the limits of rutin and quercetin. HPLC data were used to support the validity of the HPTLC method. An additional reversed phase HPTLC method was developed as a possible confirmatory method for the quercetin limit test. RESULTS The proposed HPTLC method uses a particular sequence of detections, resulting in a number of images, which are later interpreted in a certain order. It is able to identify ginkgo products, to detect adulterants (rutin, quercetin, sophora fruit and flower bud, and buckwheat), and, using peak profiles generated from the chromatogram images prior to and after derivatisation, to evaluate the limits of rutin and quercetin. Forty-eight out of fifty-nine ginkgo dietary supplements analysed contained one or more adulterants. Furthermore, results of the HPTLC and HPLC limit tests for rutin and quercetin were in agreement in 98% of the cases. Finally, a decision tree showing the sequence of interpretation of the fingerprints obtained with the different detections after a single HPTLC analysis is included to help the analyst to evaluate whether samples have the correct identity and whether they contain or not adulterants. CONCLUSION A single HPTLC analysis is able to provide information on identity and purity of the products. This simplifies the analytical workflow and reduces the number of analyses prescribed in the USP powdered ginkgo extract monograph.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora Arruda Frommenwiler
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Farmacognòsia i Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, ES-08028, Barcelona, Spain; CAMAG AG, Sonnenmattstrasse 11, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Anthony Booker
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Biodiversity and Medicines Research Cluster, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy. 29-39 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AX, London, UK; Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW, UK
| | - Roser Vila
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Farmacognòsia i Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, ES-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Biodiversity and Medicines Research Cluster, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy. 29-39 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AX, London, UK
| | - Eike Reich
- CAMAG AG, Sonnenmattstrasse 11, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Salvador Cañigueral
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Farmacognòsia i Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, ES-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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Heinrich M, Scotti F, Booker A, Fitzgerald M, Kum KY, Löbel K. Unblocking High-Value Botanical Value Chains: Is There a Role for Blockchain Systems? Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:396. [PMID: 31068810 PMCID: PMC6491748 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Blockchain systems are a fast emerging and a currently widely discussed novel strategy for a decentralized cryptographically enhanced digital ledger recording transactions among stakeholders. This perspective paper looks at its potential uses in the context of high value and mostly low volume botanical material traded globally and used as medicines, health foods, in cosmetics and other applications. We offer a perspective on key areas in the supply of such products globally and how blockchain systems may help in sustainable sourcing, quality assurance, and in tackling supply problems in cases of complex multiherbal preparations. Both open and closed blockchain systems are feasible, and it seems likely that, at least in the initial development, closed ones are the main ones to be utilized. While blockchain’s potential is not yet clear, the examples presented here highlight the opportunities of this new technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Heinrich
- Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Scotti
- Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom.,School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Fitzgerald
- School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ka Yui Kum
- Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katja Löbel
- Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
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Scotti F, Löbel K, Booker A, Heinrich M. St. John's Wort ( Hypericum perforatum) Products - How Variable Is the Primary Material? Front Plant Sci 2019; 9:1973. [PMID: 30740121 PMCID: PMC6357942 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Background: Saint John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., HP) is commonly registered in Europe under the THR scheme (Traditional Herbal Registration) or licensed as a medicine. Nonetheless unregulated medical products and food supplements are accessible through the internet which are often of poor quality. The species' natural distribution stretches through large regions of Europe to China and four subspecies have been distinguished. When compared to the European Pharmacopoeia reference, the presence of additional compounds was linked to so-called Chinese HP. Aim: In order to obtain an integrated picture of the entire chemoprofile, the chemical composition of HP materia prima was studied using a combination of techniques well-established in the relevant industries. The impact of phytogeographic factors on the materia prima can shed light on whether the variability of the final products is strongly influenced by these factors of whether they relate to poor processing, adulteration, or other factors linked to the processing of the material. Methods: Eighty-six Hypericum samples (77 H. perforatum) were collected from 14 countries. Most were authenticated and harvested in the wild; others came as roughly ground material from commercial cultivations, markets and pharmacies. The samples were analyzed using HPTLC and 1H-NMR-based principal component analysis (PCA). Results and Discussion: Limited chemical variability was found. Nonetheless, the typical fingerprint of Chinese HP was observed in each specimen from China. Additional compounds were also detected in some samples collected in Spain. Rutin is not necessarily present in the crude material. The variability previously found in the marketed products can be ascribed only partially to the geographical origin of harvested material, but mainly to the plant part harvested, closely related to harvesting techniques, processing and probably time of harvest. Conclusion: HP can be sourced in a consistent composition (and thus quality) from different geographical sources. However, chemical variability needs to be accounted for when evaluating what is considered authentic good material. Therefore, the processing and good practice are all stages of primary importance, calling for a better (self-)regulation and quality assurance along the value chain of an herbal medical product or botanical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Scotti
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Group, Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katja Löbel
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Group, Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Booker
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Group, Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Group, Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
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Booker A, Agapouda A, Frommenwiler DA, Scotti F, Reich E, Heinrich M. St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) products - an assessment of their authenticity and quality. Phytomedicine 2018; 40:158-164. [PMID: 29496168 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND St John's wort products (Hypericum perforatum L.) are widely available for sale in many countries including the UK via the internet. In the UK, these products are required to hold either a marketing authorisation or Traditional herbal registration (THR) to be sold legally. The THR and other regulatory schemes help to ensure product safety and quality providing an example of best practice but there is a risk if both regulated and un-regulated products continue to be available to consumers. AIMS The project is embedded in a larger study aiming to investigate the quality of different herbal medicinal products along diverse value chains. Here we focus on a comparison of the quality of the finished products and assess phytochemical variation between registered products (THRs) and products obtained from the market without any registration. METHODS 47 commercial products (granulated powders and extracts) were sourced from different suppliers. We analysed these samples using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and 1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multi-variate analysis software following a method previously developed by our group. RESULTS The consistency of the products varies significantly. Adulteration of the products (36%), possibly with other Hypericum species obtained from China or use of chemically distinct H. perforatum cultivars or chemotypes, and adulteration of the products (19%) with food dyes (tartrazine, amaranth, brilliant blue, sunset yellow) were the principle findings of this study. CONCLUSIONS There is significant compositional variation among commercial finished products and two main causative quality problems were identified as adulteration by incorrect species or adulteration with food dyes. Generally, food supplements and unlicensed products were found to be of poorer quality than the regulated ones including THRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Booker
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, WC1N 1AX, UK; Division of Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK
| | - Anastasia Agapouda
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | | | - Francesca Scotti
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Eike Reich
- CAMAG, Sonnenmattstrasse 11, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Research Group Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, WC1N 1AX, UK.
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Frommenwiler D, Booker A, Heinrich M, Reich E, Cañigueral S. Quality assessment of Ginkgo biloba supplements based on a single HPLTC Method. Am J Transl Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1608584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D Frommenwiler
- CAMAG, Muttenz, Switzerland
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Switzerland
| | - A Booker
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - M Heinrich
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - S Cañigueral
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Switzerland
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Scotti F, Mali P, Masiero E, Booker A, Sgamma T, Howard C, Agapouda A, Frommenwiler D, Reich E, Slater A, Heinrich M. Hypericum perforatum – a comparison of commercial samples using DNA-barcoding and chemical approaches. Am J Transl Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1608586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Scotti
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, WC1N 1AX, London, United Kingdom
| | - P Mali
- School of Allied Health Sciences, De Montfort University, The Gateway, LE1 9BH, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - E Masiero
- School of Allied Health Sciences, De Montfort University, The Gateway, LE1 9BH, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - A Booker
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, WC1N 1AX, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster 3Division of Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, W1W 6UW, London, United Kingdom
| | - T Sgamma
- School of Allied Health Sciences, De Montfort University, The Gateway, LE1 9BH, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - C Howard
- 4BP-NIBSC Herbal Laboratory, National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls, Blanche LAne, South Mimms, EN6 3QG, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - A Agapouda
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, WC1N 1AX, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - E Reich
- CAMAG, Sonnenmattstrasse 11, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - A Slater
- School of Allied Health Sciences, De Montfort University, The Gateway, LE1 9BH, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - M Heinrich
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, WC1N 1AX, London, United Kingdom
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Gill L, Sefcik J, Waite T, Booker A, Cacchione P. DEATH OF A LOVED ONE FRAMES END OF LIFE DECISION MAKING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN PACE PARTICIPANTS. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.4853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- L. Gill
- Mercy LIFE West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - J. Sefcik
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
| | - T.S. Waite
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
| | - A. Booker
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
| | - P.Z. Cacchione
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
- Mercy LIFE West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Agapouda A, Booker A, Kiss T, Hohmann J, Heinrich M, Csupor D. Quality control of Hypericum perforatum L. analytical challenges and recent progress. J Pharm Pharmacol 2017; 71:15-37. [PMID: 28266019 DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
The most widely applied qualitative and quantitative analytical methods in the quality control of Hypericum perforatum extracts will be reviewed, including routine analytical tools and most modern approaches.
Key findings
Biologically active components of H. perforatum are chemically diverse; therefore, different chromatographic and detection methods are required for the comprehensive analysis of St. John's wort extracts. Naphthodianthrones, phloroglucinols and flavonoids are the most widely analysed metabolites of this plant. For routine quality control, detection of major compounds belonging to these groups seems to be sufficient; however, closer characterization requires the detection of minor compounds as well.
Conclusions
TLC and HPTLC are basic methods in the routine analysis, whereas HPLC-DAD is the most widely applied method for quantitative analysis due to its versatility. LC-MS is gaining importance in pharmacokinetic studies due to its sensitivity. Modern approaches, such as DNA barcoding, NIRS and NMR metabolomics, may offer new possibilities for the more detailed characterization of secondary metabolite profile of H. perforatum extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Agapouda
- Research Cluster “Biodiversity and Medicines”, Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK
| | - Anthony Booker
- Research Cluster “Biodiversity and Medicines”, Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK
- Division of Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Tivadar Kiss
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Natural Products, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Judit Hohmann
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Natural Products, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Research Cluster “Biodiversity and Medicines”, Research Group “Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy”, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK
| | - Dezső Csupor
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Natural Products, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Booker A, Zhai L, Gkouva C, Li S, Heinrich M. From Traditional Resource to Global Commodities:-A Comparison of Rhodiola Species Using NMR Spectroscopy-Metabolomics and HPTLC. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:254. [PMID: 27621703 PMCID: PMC5002433 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The fast developing international trade of products based on traditional knowledge and their value chains has become an important aspect of the ethnopharmacological debate. The structure and diversity of value chains and their impact on the phytochemical composition of herbal medicinal products, as well as the underlying government policies and regulations, have been overlooked in the debate about quality problems in transnational trade. Rhodiola species, including Rhodiola rosea L. and Rhodiola crenulata (Hook. f. & Thomson) H. Ohba, are used as traditional herbal medicines. Faced with resource depletion and environment destruction, R. rosea and R. crenulata are becoming endangered, making them more economically valuable to collectors and middlemen, and also increasing the risk of adulteration and low quality. Rhodiola products have been subject to adulteration and we recently assessed 39 commercial products for their composition and quality. However, the range of Rhodiola species potentially implicated has not been assessed. Also, the ability of selected analytical techniques in differentiating these species is not known yet. Using a strategy previously developed by our group, we compare the phytochemical differences among Rhodiola raw materials available on the market to provide a practical method for the identification of different Rhodiola species from Europe and Asia and the detection of potential adulterants. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis software and high performance thin layer chromatography techniques were used to analyse the samples. Rosavin and rosarin were mainly present in R. rosea but also in Rosea sachalinensis Borris. 30% of the Rhodiola samples purchased from the Chinese market were adulterated by other Rhodiola spp. The utilization of a combined platform based on 1H-NMR and HPTLC methods resulted in an integrated analysis of different Rhodiola species. We identified adulteration at the earliest stage of the value chains, i.e., during collection as a key problem involving several species. This project also highlights the need to further study the links between producers and consumers in national and trans-national trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Booker
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of LondonLondon, UK; Division of Herbal and East Asian Medicine, Department of Life Sciences, University of WestminsterLondon, UK
| | - Lixiang Zhai
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of LondonLondon, UK; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical UniversityGuangzhou, China
| | - Christina Gkouva
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London London, UK
| | - Shuyuan Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University Guangzhou, China
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London London, UK
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Booker A, Jalil B, Frommenwiler D, Reich E, Zhai L, Kulic Z, Heinrich M. The authenticity and quality of Rhodiola rosea products. Phytomedicine 2016; 23:754-762. [PMID: 26626192 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Revised: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhodiola rosea L. Crassulaceae, root (Golden Root, Arctic Root) is a high-value herbal medicinal product, registered in the UK for the treatment of stress-induced fatigue, exhaustion and anxiety based on traditional use and used throughout Europe as a herbal medicinal product for similar indications. Numerous unregistered supplements are also available. There are several Chinese species used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including Rhodiola crenulata (Hook.f. & Thomoson) that is believed to be a common adulterant in the R. rosea value chain. AIMS The project is embedded in a larger study aiming to investigate the diverse value chains that lead to the production of R. rosea as an herbal medicinal product or supplement. Here we focus on a comparison of the quality of the finished products and assess any phytochemical variation between products registered under the Traditional Herbal Medicine Products Directive (THMPD) and products obtained from the market without any registration (i.e. generally unlicensed supplements). Our key aim is to establish the extent of the problem in terms of adulteration of consumer products claiming to contain R. rosea (or R. crenulata). METHODS Approximately 40 commercial products (granulated powders and extracts) were sourced from different suppliers. We analysed these samples using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), mass spectrometry (MS) and (1)H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multi-variate analysis software following a method previously developed by our group for the analysis of turmeric products. RESULTS We investigate the phytochemistry of the different species and assess the potential of R. crenulata as an adulterant at the end of the R. rosea value chains. The consistency of the products varies significantly. Approximately one fifth of commercial products that claimed to be R. rosea did not contain rosavin (the key reference markers used to distinguish R. rosea from related species). Moreover some products appeared not to contain salidroside, another marker compound found in other Rhodiola species. Approximately 80% of the remaining commercial products were lower in rosavin content than the registered products and appeared to be adulterated with other Rhodiola species. CONCLUSIONS The variation in phytochemical constituents present in Rhodiola products available to European buyers via the internet and other sources is a major cause for concern. Adulteration with different species, and other sometimes unknown adulterants, appears to be commonplace. Good quality systems and manufacturing practices, including those required under the THMPD, enable consumers to have confidence that products are authentic and meet a high specification for quality and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Booker
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London, UK
| | - Banaz Jalil
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London, UK
| | | | | | - Lixiang Zhai
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London, UK; Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zarko Kulic
- Preclinical Research, Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Michael Heinrich
- Research Cluster Biodiversity and Medicines/Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London, UK.
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Booker A, Frommenwiler D, Johnston D, Umealajekwu C, Reich E, Heinrich M. Chemical variability along the value chains of turmeric (Curcuma longa): a comparison of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high performance thin layer chromatography. J Ethnopharmacol 2014; 152:292-301. [PMID: 24417868 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Revised: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Herbal medicine value chains have generally been overlooked compared with food commodities. Not surprisingly, revenue generation tends to be weighted towards the end of the chain and consequently the farmers and producers are the lowest paid beneficiaries. Value chains have an impact both on the livelihood of producers and on the composition and quality of products commonly sold locally and globally and consequently on the consumers. In order to understand the impact of value chains on the composition of products, we studied the production conditions for turmeric (Curcuma longa) and the metabolomic composition of products derived from it. We aimed at integrating these two components in order to gain a better understanding of the effect of different value chains on the livelihoods of some producers. MATERIALS AND METHODS This interdisciplinary project uses a mixed methods approach. Case studies were undertaken on two separate sites in India. Data was initially gathered on herbal medicine value chains by means of semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations. Samples were collected from locations in India, Europe and the USA and analysed using (1)H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis software and with high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). RESULTS We investigate medicinal plant value chains and interpret the impact different value chains have on some aspects of the livelihoods of producers in India and, for the first time, analytically assess the chemical variability and quality implications that different value chains may have on the products available to end users in Europe. There are benefits to farmers that belonged to an integrated chain and the resulting products were subject to a higher standard of processing and storage. By using analytical methods, including HPTLC and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, it has been possible to correlate some variations in product composition for selected producers and identify strengths and weaknesses of some types of value chains. The two analytical techniques provide different and complementary data and together they can be used to effectively differentiate between a wide variety of crude drug powders and herbal medicinal products. CONCLUSIONS This project demonstrates that there is a need to study the links between producers and consumers of commodities produced in so-called 'provider countries' and that metabolomics offer a novel way of assessing the chemical variability along a value chain. This also has implications for understanding the impact this has on the livelihood of those along the value chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Booker
- Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, UK
| | | | - Deborah Johnston
- School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London, UK
| | - Chinenye Umealajekwu
- Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, UK
| | | | - Michael Heinrich
- Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London, UK; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Booker A, Suter A, Krnjic A, Strassel B, Zloh M, Said M, Heinrich M. A phytochemical comparison of saw palmetto products using gas chromatography and (1) H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolomic profiling. J Pharm Pharmacol 2014; 66:811-22. [PMID: 24417505 PMCID: PMC4284019 DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Preparations containing saw palmetto berries are used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There are many products on the market, and relatively little is known about their chemical variability and specifically the composition and quality of different saw palmetto products notwithstanding that in 2000, an international consultation paper from the major urological associations from the five continents on treatments for BPH demanded further research on this topic. Here, we compare two analytical approaches and characterise 57 different saw palmetto products. Methods An established method – gas chromatography – was used for the quantification of nine fatty acids, while a novel approach of metabolomic profiling using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used as a fingerprinting tool to assess the overall composition of the extracts. Key findings The phytochemical analysis determining the fatty acids showed a high level of heterogeneity of the different products in the total amount and of nine single fatty acids. A robust and reproducible 1H NMR spectroscopy method was established, and the results showed that it was possible to statistically differentiate between saw palmetto products that had been extracted under different conditions but not between products that used a similar extraction method. Principal component analysis was able to determine those products that had significantly different metabolites. Conclusions The metabolomic approach developed offers novel opportunities for quality control along the value chain of saw palmetto and needs to be followed further, as with this method, the complexity of a herbal extract can be better assessed than with the analysis of a single group of constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Booker
- Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, University of London, London, UK
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Williamson EM, Lorenc A, Booker A, Robinson N. The rise of traditional Chinese medicine and its materia medica: a comparison of the frequency and safety of materials and species used in Europe and China. J Ethnopharmacol 2013; 149:453-462. [PMID: 23832055 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/22/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE Due to the global rise in the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Chinese materia medica (medicinal materials, or CMM) are giving cause for concern over their evidence base, safety/possible toxicity, questionable quality and use of endangered species of both animals and plants. However, little if anything is actually known about the range of species used to produce CMM used in Europe and even in China. This study represents the first attempt to identify and compare the most important CMM used in both regions, to begin the process of assessing the risks to public health and possible future benefits. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected from a convenience sample of TCM practitioners in the EU and mainland China, using a paper/online survey. Among other questions, respondents were asked (1) which conditions they most commonly treated using CMM and the likelihood of them using herbal manufactured products and decoctions in addition to raw herbs; (2) the perceived frequency with which they observed adverse events to CMM; (3) the frequency and reasons for use of 1 herbal formula and 6 specific individual herbs; (4) an open question about other CMM they used, including materials of non-plant origin. Data were entered into PASW statistics package and analysed using frequency tables, cross-tabulations and chi-squared tests to compare EU and Chinese results. RESULTS From a total of 747 useable questionnaires (420 from China, 327 from the EU) of those responding from the EU, TCM was generally more commonly used for obstetric/gynaecological and dermatological conditions, compared to neurological and gastrointestinal diseases in China. Disorders treated by Chinese practitioners were more varied, and often more serious, than those treated by their European counterparts, and the range of materials used in China was wider. The potential for toxicity was not high in either region, but although greater in China due to the use of more potent CMM, the incidence of side effects was perceived to be higher by EU practitioners. CONCLUSIONS Very few of the species used to prepare CMM in the EU in this study give rise to safety concerns from what is known from the scientific and other literature, and in China only a few toxic CMM appear to be commonly used, some of them only after processing and mainly for serious disorders. The main cause for concern is likely to be interaction with prescribed medication, especially in central nervous system and cardiovascular conditions where drug interactions have previously been reported most frequently and which would currently be more applicable in China than Europe.
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Booker A, Johnston D, Heinrich M. Value chains of herbal medicines--research needs and key challenges in the context of ethnopharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol 2012; 140:624-33. [PMID: 22326378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2011] [Revised: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/20/2012] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Value chain analyses are commonly used to understand socioeconomic and power relationships in the production chain from the initial starting material to a final (generally high value) product. These analyses help in terms of understanding economic processes but also have been used in the context of socioeconomic and socioecological research. AIMS OF THE STUDY However, there is a gap in the ethnopharmacological literature in terms of understanding what relevance a critical analysis of value chains of herbal medicines could have. Here we provide a research framework for achieving such an analysis. METHODS An extensive review of the literature available on value chains and their analysis was conducted, based both on a systematic online search of the relevant literature and a hand search of bibliographies and discussions with experts in value chain analysis RESULTS While the concept of value chains is commonly used in the relevant industries, very few studies investigate the value chains of herbal medicines and products derived from them. The studies identified mostly look at socio-ecological aspects, especially in the context of sustainable resource use. We suggest an analytical framework which can help in understanding value chains in the context of ethnopharmacology and can serve as a basis for addressing questions related to value chains and their relevance in ethnopharmacology. CONCLUSIONS We identified a crucial gap in current ethnopharmacological and medicinal plant research which impacts on a wide-range of factors relevant for a sustainable, socio-culturally equitable and safe supply of herbal medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Booker
- Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health (LCIRAH), London International Development Centre, 36 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD, UK
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Noginov MA, Loutts GB, Helzer SW, Booker A, Lucas B, Fider D, Macfarlane RM, Shelby RM. Two-Color Holographic Recording Scheme Allowing Nonvolatile Reading in Mn:YAlO(3). Appl Opt 2001; 40:3915-3921. [PMID: 18360426 DOI: 10.1364/ao.40.003915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We propose and experimentally realize the recording of two-color holographic gratings in Mn:YAlO(3), a potential material for holographic data storage. This type of recording allows for nonvolatile retrieval of recorded information at the recording wavelength. We demonstrate two-color recording and readout of a 256 x 256 pixel page using red and green laser beams with a bit error rate of 6 x 10(-7).
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Affiliation(s)
- F M Gallimore
- Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
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