Analysis of polyphenolic composition and stability of magistral preparation based on salviae officinalis folium

A magistral preparation based on the sage leaf decoction or infusion is one of the most popular herbal prescriptions prepared in pharmacies in Lower Silesia (Poland) for gargling in the case of pharyngitis or mouth infections. Other components of this preparation are boric acid, aluminum(III) acetotartrate or Burow's solution, and glycerol. The study aimed to investigate the polyphenolic composition and relations between herbal and chemical ingredients that are present in this mixture in comparison with the traditional aqueous galenic forms - infusion and decoction. The analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) methods. The main polyphenolic ingredients of sage leaf were rosmarinic acid (RA) and luteolin 7-O-β-glucuronide. The RA predominance was observed in the infusion, decoction and magistral preparation. Comparing the contents of analyzed polyphenols, it was confirmed that their levels in the decoction were higher than in the infusion. Thus, the pharmacological activity of the examined magistral preparation results from the presence of boric acid, aluminum(III) salts and polyphenolic components of sage leaf hot water extract. The succeeding study showed that in the presence of excess salts of aluminum(III) and boric acid, sage polyphenols are partially soluble in an aqueous medium (mainly phenolic acids) and complexed as precipitated sediment (especially flavonoids). The aqueous solutions of this preparation obtained according to the recommendation are cloudy, which suggests limited solubility of the formed complexes. Therefore, the therapeutic activity should be associated with the presence of water-soluble caffeic acid esters like rosmarinic acid. The influence of luteolin glycosides coordination complexes is not evident. The obtained results also confirm the stability of the examined prescription formulation in the conditions of cold storage (4-6OC) within 7 days from its production

Thymol as a Component of Chitosan Systems—Several New Applications in Medicine: A Comprehensive Review

Thymol, a plant-derived monoterpene phenol known for its broad biological activity, has often been incorporated into chitosan-based biomaterials to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature review from 2018 to 2023, focusing on the biomedical implications of thymol-loaded chitosan systems. A review of databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted using specific keywords and search criteria. Of the 90 articles, 12 were selected for the review. Thymol-loaded chitosan-based nanogels (TLCBS) showed improved antimicrobial properties, especially against multidrug-resistant bacterial antagonists. Innovations such as bipolymer nanocarriers and thymol impregnated with photosensitive chitosan micelles offer advanced bactericidal strategies and show potential for bone tissue regeneration and wound healing. The incorporation of thymol also improved drug delivery efficiency and biomechanical strength, especially when combined with poly(dimethylsiloxane) in chitosan–gelatin films. Thymol–chitosan combinations have also shown promising applications in oral delivery and periodontal treatment. This review highlights the synergy between thymol and chitosan in these products, which greatly enhances their therapeutic efficacy and highlights the novel use of essential oil components. It also highlights the novelty of the studies conducted, as well as their limitations and possible directions for the development of integrated substances of plant and animal origin in modern and advanced medical applications

ANALYSIS OF POLYPHENOLIC COMPOSITION AND STABILITY OF MAGISTRAL PREPARATION BASED ON SALVIAE OFFICINALIS FOLIUM

A magistral preparation based on the sage leaf decoction or infusion is one of the most popular herbal prescription prepared in pharmacies in Lower Silesia (Poland) for gargling in the pharyngitis or mouth infections. Other components of this preparation are boric acid, aluminum(III) acetotartrate or Burow's solution, and glycerol. The study aimed to investigate the polyphenolic composition and relations between herbal and chemical ingredients that are present in this mixture in comparison with the traditional aqueous galenic forms – infusion and decoction. The analysis was performed using HPLC-DAD and ESI-MS methods. The main polyphenolic ingredients of sage leaf were rosmarinic acid and luteolin 7-O-β-glucuronide. The content of analyzed polyphenols was higher in the decoction than in the infusion. The pharmacological activity of the examined mixture results from the presence of boric acid, aluminum(III) salts and polyphenolic components of sage leaf. The study showed that in the presence of excess salts of aluminum(III) and boric acid, sage polyphenols are partially soluble in an aqueous medium (mainly phenolic acids) and complexed as precipitated sediment (especially flavonoids). The aqueous solutions of this preparation are cloudy, which suggests limited solubility of the formed complexes. Therefore, the therapeutic activity of the sage leaf magistral preparation should be associated with the presence of water soluble caffeic acid esters like rosmarinic acid. The influence of luteolin glycosides coordination complexes is not evident. The obtained results also confirm the stability of the examined formula in the conditions of cold storage (4-6 °C) within 7 days from its production

Volatile compounds and antibacterial effect of commercial mint cultivars - chemotypes and safety

The taxonomy of Mentha species is complicated due to the possibility of hybridization, and the introduction of many cultivars of mint used mainly for industrial purposes is a big challenge for their correct identification. Multidirectional studies of new mint cultivars give the possibility to determine their chemical composition and safety in use. An analysis of the essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves of fifteen commercial mints was performed using the GC–MS method. Additionally, the headspace volatile compound profiles of analyzed mint leaves were obtained by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME/GC–MS). The essential oil yields were found to vary from 2.0–26.5 mL/kg. The GC–MS of EOs, as well as for the headspace compounds, showed large variation in their chemical composition. The principal component analysis (PCA) enabled distinction of three groups of chemotypes among fifteen mint cultivars, characterized by the abundance of trans-piperitenone oxide, carvone or menthol and related compounds. The use of these essential oils seems to be safe with respect to menthone, pulegone and menthofuran levels. The majority of isolated essential oils inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but the effectiveness of their antibacterial activity varies. The obtained results indicate a variability of chemical composition and antimicrobial properties within the analyzed mint cultivars

Headspace Solid-Phase Micro-Extraction Versus Hydrodistillation of Volatile Compounds from Leaves of Cultivated Mentha Taxa: Markers of Safe Chemotypes

Various mint taxa are widely cultivated and are used not only for medicinal purposes but also in cosmetic and industrial applications. The development of new varieties or cultivars of mint generates difficulties in their correct identification and safe use. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the leaves of seven different taxa of the genus Mentha obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was also performed. Comparative GC-MS analysis of the obtained extracts showed similarity in the major compounds. PCA data allowed the separation of two groups of chemotypes among the analyzed mints, characterized by the abundance of piperitenone oxide and carvone. Two out of seven analyzed taxa were not previously examined for VOC profile, one was examined only for patent application purposes, and six out of seven were investigated for the first time using the HS-SPME technique. The presented analysis provides new data on the abundance and qualitative characterization of VOCs in the studied mint plants and on the safety of their use, related to the possibility of the presence of potentially toxic components. HS-SPME is a valuable method to extend the characterization of the VOC profile obtained by hydrodistillation

First Extensive Polyphenolic Profile of Erodium cicutarium

Erodium cicutarium is known for its total polyphenolic content, but this work reveals the first highly detailed profile of E. cicutarium, obtained with UHPLC-LTQ OrbiTrap MS4 and UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS techniques. A total of 85 phenolic compounds were identified and 17 constituents were quantified. Overall, 25 new compounds were found, which have not yet been reported for the Erodium genera, or the family Geraniaceae. Along with methanolic extracts, the so far poorly investigated water extracts exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity according to all performed assays, including the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay (ABTS) and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity assay (CUPRAC). Elemental composition analysis performed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and, additionally, hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HydrEA-ETAAS) showed six most abundant elements to be decreasing as follows: Mg>Ca>K>S>P>Na, and gave first data regarding inorganic arsenic content (109.3–248.4 ng g−1). These results suggest E. cicutarium to be a valuable source of various phenolic compounds with substantial potential for further bioactivity testing