Quantitative analysis of catechins in Saraca asoca and correlation with antimicrobial activity

Herbal medicines are highly complex and have unknown mechanisms in diseases treatment. Saraca asoca (Roxb.), De. Wild has been recommended to treat gynecological disorders and used in several commercial polyherbal formulations. In present study, efforts have been made to explore antimicrobial activity and its co-relation with the distributions of catechins in the organs of S. asoca using targeted MS/MS. Eight extracts (cold and hot water) from four different organs of S. asoca and two drugs were prepared and antimicrobial activity was assessed by microbroth dilution assay. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of catechins in crude extracts was done by using targeted and auto-MS/MS and correlated with antimicrobial activity. (+)-Catechin and (+)-epicatechin and their biosynthesis related compound were found to be up-regulated in regenerated bark and leaves extracts. (â)-Epigallocatechin was found to be significantly higher in bark water extract as compared to others but showed low antimicrobial activity. Result showed down-regulation of (â)-epigallocatechin and up-regulation of (+)-catechin and (+)-epicatechin in the regenerated bark and leaves of S. asoca. It might be the contributing factor in the antimicrobial activity of regenerated bark and leaves of the plant. The concentration of (+)-epicatechin in processed drugs (Ashokarishta) from Baidyanath was found to be seven times higher than that of Dabur Pvt. Ltd., but no antimicrobial activity was observed, indicating the variations among the plant based drugs. This will be helpful in rational use of S. asoca parts. Furthermore, the analytical method developed is sensitive, repeatable and reliable; therefore, it is suitable for quality control of herbal drugs. Keywords: Mass spectroscopy, Phytochemistry, Quality control, Flavonoids, Ayurveda, Antimicrobia

RAPD-PCR ANALYSIS OF BIXA ORELLANA L. AND SALACIA CHINENS L. TO STUDY GENETIC DIVERSITY

ABSTRACT Bixa orellana L. and Salacia chinensis L. are medicinal plants and native tropical trees of Sri Lanka and Southern region of India which are used in Indian system of medicine to treat various diseases. There is a need to preserve and explore their quantum of genetic variation by analysing the polymorphism between the these plants. Therefore, our aim was to analyse interrelationship and genetic polymorphism between these plants by RAPD Profiling. RAPD is a technique that is based on the amplification of DNA by the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with short nonspecific primers. RAPD results in amplification of genome regions flanked by the specific priming sites. Our research work suggests that there is much lesser genetic variation between the two species. Both of these plants reproduced four highly monomorphic bands. Thus, study will help in determining genetic variation among Bixa orellana L. and Salacia chinensis L. which are medicinally important and will develop ways to conserve the medicinal aspects of them

Volatilomic insight of head and neck cancer via the effects observed on saliva metabolites

Abstract Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a heterogeneous malignant disease with distinct global distribution. Metabolic adaptations of HNC are significantly gaining clinical interests nowadays. Here, we investigated effects of HNC on differential expression of volatile metabolites in human saliva. We applied headspace solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of saliva samples collected from 59 human subjects (HNC − 32, Control − 27). We identified and quantified 48 volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) and observed profound effects of HNC on these metabolites. These effects were VOM specific and significantly differed in the biologically comparable healthy controls. HNC induced changes in salivary VOM composition were well attributed to in vivo metabolic effects. A panel of 15 VOMs with variable importance in projection (VIP) score >1, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected p-value < 0.05 and log2 fold change (log2 FC) value of ≥0.58/≤−0.58 were regarded as discriminatory metabolites of pathophysiological importance. Afterwards, receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) projected certain VOMs viz., 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-decanediol, 2,5-bis1,1-dimethylethylphenol and E-3-decen-2-ol with profound metabolic effects of HNC and highest class segregation potential. Moreover, metabolic pathways analysis portrayed several dysregulated pathways in HNC, which enhanced our basic understanding on salivary VOM changes. Our observations could redefine several known/already investigated systemic phenomenons (e.g. biochemical pathways). These findings will inspire further research in this direction and may open unconventional avenues for non-invasive monitoring of HNC and its therapy in the future