A comparative study of Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix & Rhizoma raw material and granule products using chromatographic analysis and antioxidant activity

Objective: Granules of herbal extracts are a popular medicinal preparation consumed in traditional Chinese medicine clinical practice. However, their quality and efficacy evaluation are lacking. This study aimed to compare the quality and anti-oxidant activity of Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix & Rhizoma) granule extracts with their herbal extracts. Methods: Chromatographic method was used to determine the content of 7 marker compounds in the water extracts of the herb compared to that of 12 granule extracts. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) and principal component analysis (PCA) distinguished the herbal and granule extracts based on the content of the marker compounds. The antioxidant activities of herbal and granule extracts were evaluated by 2, 2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), organic chemical compound 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Results: The herbal extracts group showed significantly higher contents of salvianolic acid B, sodium danshensu and cryptotanshinone compared with that of the granule group. This corresponded to significantly higher ABTS, DPPH and FRAP (P < .05) activities of the herbal extracts. The AHC and PCA analysis distinguished granule extracts from most herbal extracts predominantly by the content of salvianolic acid B. Conclusion: The results confirm the need for the assessment of granule products so that healthcare practitioners and consumers are better informed of their quality and efficacy

Synergistic study of a Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) and Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma) combination on cell survival in EA.hy926 cells

Background: This study investigated the protective effects of the Danshen (DS) and Sanqi (SQ) herb pair on cell survival in the human cardiovascular endothelial (EA.hy926) cell line exposed to injury. Methods: Nine combination ratios of Danshen-Sanqi extracts (DS-SQ) were screened for their protective effects in the EA.hy926 cell line against two different cellular impairments induced by DL-homocysteine (Hcy) – adenosine (Ado) – tumour necrosis factors (TNF) and oxidative stress (H2O2), respectively. The type of interaction (synergistic, antagonistic, additive) between DS and SQ was analysed using a combination index (CI) model. The effects of key bioactive compounds from DS and SQ were tested using the same models. The compound from each herb that demonstrated the most potent activity in cell viability was combined to evaluate their synergistic/antagonistic interaction using CI. Results: DS-SQ ratios of 6:4 (50–300 μg/mL) produced synergistic effects (CI < 1) in restoring cell viability, reducing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and caspase-3 expressions against Hcy-Ado-TNF. Additionally, DS-SQ 6:4 (50–150 μg/mL) was found to synergistically protect endothelial cells from impaired cellular injury induced by oxidative damage (H2O2) by restoring reduced cell viability and inhibiting excessive expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In particular, the combination of salvianolic acid A (SA) and ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) at 4:6 (1–150 μM) showed synergistic effects in preventing cytotoxic effects caused by Hcy-Ado-TNF (CI < 1). This simplified combination also demonstrated synergistic effects on H2O2-induced oxidative damage on EA.hy926 cells. Conclusions: This study provides scientific evidence to support the traditional use of the DS-SQ combination on protecting endothelial cells through their synergistic interactions

Iron(III) biosorption by Polyporus squamosus

Polyporus squamosus was tested for its ability to absorb Fe(III) ions from solutions. Kinetic and isotherm sorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of contact time, pH, metal concentration, dose of the adsorbent, ionic strength and glucose. The increases in initial concentration of metal and pH of the solutions resulted in an increase in iron uptake. The equilibrium data could be fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equation. Both Langmuir and Freundlich sorption models adequately describe the biosorption of Fe(III) by P. squamosus. Maximum metal uptake capacities of P. sqamosus biomass (qm) were found as 31.2, 18.1 and 12.2 mg/g for 1.5, 3.3 and 6.6 g biomass/l, respectively. With increasing ionic strength, there is a decrease in the metal uptake (qm) as well as coefficient b in Langmuir equation. It was noticed that lower concentrations of glucose resulted in higher rates and amounts of Fe(III) adsorption, while its concentration above 0.1% (w/v) reduced substantially the ability of the cells to absorb this metal

Sličnost ugljenohidratnog sastava otpadnog brašna heljde dokazana primenom gasne hromatografije sa masenom spektrometrijom

Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for performing a qualitative analysis of the hydrosoluble flour extracts of 9 buckwheat samples, taken as leftovers from restaurants. All 9 samples were first defatted with hexane. Samples of defatted flour were dried in the air and then extracted with ethanol. Ethanol extracts were used for the analysis of soluble carbohydrates. TMSi (trimethylsilylimidazole) was used as a reagent for the derivatization of carbohydrates into trimethylsilyl-ethers. The results show that the dominant trimethylsilyl-ethers of sugars are actually very similar in all buckwheat samples. The following cluster analysis was used for the comparison of the hydrosoluble extracts of 9 waste buckwheat flour samples.Kvalitativna analiza hidrosolubilnih komponenti 9 uzoraka otpadnog brašna heljde izvedena je pomoću gasne hromatografije sa masenom spektrometrijom (GC-MS). Svi uzorci prethodno su obezmašćeni heksanom. Uzorci obezmašćenog brašna osušeni su na vazduhu, nakon čega je izvršena ekstrakcija etanolom. Etanolni ekstrakti upotrebljeni su za analizu rastvorljivih ugljenih hidrata. Kao reagens za derivatizaciju ugljenih hidrata u metilsilil-etre korišćen je TMSi (trimetilsililimidazol). Rezultati pokazuju da je sastav najzastupljenijih ugljenih hidrata, odnosno njihovih trimetilsilil-etara, veoma sličan u svih 9 uzoraka heljde. U cilju poređenja hidrosolubilnog sastava etanolnih ekstrakata uzoraka otpadnog brašna heljde primenjena je klaster analiza

Sličnost lipidnog sastava otpadnog brašna heljde dokazana primenom gasne hromatografije sa masenom spektrometrijom

Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for performing a qualitative analysis of the liposoluble flour extracts of 9 buckwheat samples, taken as leftovers from restaurants. All 9 samples were defatted with hexane, and then those hexane extracts were used for the analysis of the fatty acids of lipid components. Transesterification reagent was TMSH (trimethylsulfonium-hydroxide, 0.2 M in methanol). With this transesterification reaction fatty acids esterified from acilglycerol to methyl-esters. The results show that the dominant methyl-esters of fatty acids are actually very similar in all buckwheat samples. The following cluster analysis was used for the comparison of the liposoluble flour extracts of 9 buckwheat waste flour samples.Za kvalitativnu analizu liposolubilnih komponenata 9 uzoraka otpadnog brašna heljde korišćena je gasna hromatografija sa masenom spektrometrijom (GC-MS). Svih 9 uzoraka prethodno je obezmašćeno heksanom, a potom su heksanski ekstrakti korišćeni za analizu sastava masnih kiselina. Reakcijom transesterifikacije masne kiseline prevedene su iz acil-glicerola u odgovarajuće metil-estre, a kao reagens za transesterifikaciju korišćen je TMSH (trimetilsulfonijum-hidroksid, 0,2 M u metanolu). Rezultati pokazuju da je sastav najzastupljenijih masnih kiselina, odnosno njihovih metil-estara, veoma sličan u svih 9 uzoraka otpadnog brašna heljde. U cilju poređenja liposolubilnog sastava heksanskih ekstrakata uzoraka otpadnog brašna heljde primenjena je klaster analiza

Attenuation of glucose-induced myoglobin glycation and the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by (R)-α-lipoic acid in vitro

High-carbohydrate containing diets have become a precursor to glucose-mediated protein glycation which has been linked to an increase in diabetic and cardiovascular complications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of (R)-_-lipoic acid (ALA) against glucose-induced myoglobin glycation and the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vitro. Methods: The effect of ALA on myoglobin glycation was determined via the formation of AGEs fluorescence intensity, iron released from the heme moiety of myoglobin and the level of fructosamine. The extent of glycation-induced myoglobin oxidation was measured via the levels of protein carbonyl and thiol. Results: The results showed that the co-incubation of ALA (1, 2 and 4 mM) with myoglobin (1 mg/mL) and glucose (1 M) significantly decreased the levels of fructosamine, which is directly associated with the decrease in the formation of AGEs. Furthermore, ALA significantly reduced the release of free iron from myoglobin which is attributed to the protection of myoglobin from glucose-induced glycation. The results also demonstrated a significant protective effect of ALA on myoglobin from oxidative damage, as seen from the decreased protein carbonyls and increased protein thiols. Conclusion: The anti-glycation properties of ALA suggest that ALA supplementation may be beneficial in the prevention of AGEs-mediated diabetic and cardiovascular complication

Analysis of different innovative formulations of curcumin for improved relative oral bioavailability in human subjects

Purpose The optimal health benefits of curcumin are limited by its low solubility in water and corresponding poor intestinal absorption. Cyclodextrins (CD) can form inclusion complexes on a molecular basis with lipophilic compounds, thereby improving aqueous solubility, dispersibility, and absorption. In this study, we investigated the bioavailability of a new ƴ-cyclodextrin curcumin formulation (CW8). This formulation was compared to a standardized unformulated curcumin extract (StdC) and two commercially available formulations with purported increased bioavailability: a curcumin phytosome formulation (CSL) and a formulation of curcumin with essential oils of turmeric extracted from the rhizome (CEO). Method Twelve healthy human volunteers participated in a double-blinded, cross-over study. The plasma concentrations of the individual curcuminoids that are present in turmeric (namely curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) were determined at baseline and at various intervals after oral administration over a 12-h period. Results CW8 showed the highest plasma concentrations of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and total curcuminoids, whereas CSL administration resulted in the highest levels of bisdemethoxycurcumin. CW8 (39-fold) showed significantly increased relative bioavailability of total curcuminoids (AUC₀₋₁₂) in comparison with the unformulated StdC. Conclusion The data presented suggest that ƴ-cyclodextrin curcumin formulation (CW8) significantly improves the absorption of curcuminoids in health humans

Assessing the quantification of acetylation in konjac glucomannan via ATR-FTIR and solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Dietary fiber like konjac glucomannan (KGM) is important in maintaining good human health. There is no established method for quantifying the average degree of acetylation DA of this polysaccharide. Polysaccharides are notoriously difficult to dissolve. In this study, KGM could not be fully dissolved in common solvents and was characterized in the solid state. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy enabled a fast qualitative assessment of acetylation, selective to the outer layer of KGM particles, and identifying excipients like magnesium stearate. Average DA was quantified for the first time with solid-state 13C NMR in KGM: semi-quantitative measurements on the same arbitrary scale by cross polarization (1 to 2 days) were calibrated with a few longer single-pulse excitation measurements (approximately 1 week). DA values ranged from 4 to 8% of the hexoses in the backbone, in agreement with previously reported values. This method could be used for quality control and standardization of KGM products