Stabilität von Herzglykosiden in wässrigen bzw. wässrig fermentierten Extrakten aus der Meerzwiebel (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn)

In der vorliegenden Studie wurden ein rein wässriger Extrakt und ein wässrig fermentierter Extrakt, hergestellt nach dem Homöopathischem Arzneibuch (HAB), aus der Meerzwiebel (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn) bei unterschiedlichen Temperatur- und Lichtbedingungen gelagert. In regelmäßigen Abständen wurde die Stabilität der Herzglykoside in diesen Extrakten mittels HPLC-DAD-MSn bewertet. Die geringsten Abbauraten der Einzelkomponenten wurden bei einer Lagerung im Dunkeln bei 5 °C ermittelt. Schon eine Temperaturerhöhung auf 20 °C beschleunigte den Abbau bzw. die Metabolisierung der Bufadienolide. Die geringste Stabilität wurde unter Belichtung bei 20 °C ermittelt. Außerdem war ein deutlicher Unterschied zwischen den auf unterschiedliche Weisen gewonnenen Extrakten beobachtbar. So wiesen die Herzglykoside im Extrakt, der nach HAB hergestellt wurde, eine deutliche höhere Stabilität unter allen Lagerbedingungen auf. Stichwörter: Meerzwiebel, Herzglykoside, Stabilität, Belichtung, Pflanzenextrakt, Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn Stability of cardiac glycosides in aqueous and fermented aqueous extracts from sea squill (Drimia maritima L. Stearn)In the present study an aqueous and a fermented aqueous extract, obtained according to the German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia (GHP), from sea squill (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn) were stored under different light and temperature conditions. Stability of cardiac glycosides in these extracts was evaluated periodically by HPLC-DAD-MS. Lowest degradation rates of individual compounds were observed upon storage at 5 °C in the dark. Increasing the temperature at 20 °C accelerated compound degradation and the formation of bufadienolide metabolites. Poorest stability was found upon storage at 20 °C with light exposure. Furthermore, clear-cut differences were observed between the extracts obtained according to different protocols. Stability of cardiac glycosides in the extract obtained according to the GHP was generally improved, irrespective of the storage conditions. Keywords: sea squill, cardiac glycosides, stability, light exposure, plant extract, Drimia maritima (L.) Stear

Characterization of two novel antioxidant tetrahydroxyxanthones from Hypericum seeds and scanning electronmicroscopic investigations of their testa

Hypericum-Samen wurden kürzlich als natürliche Quelle für eine Reihe von Xanthon-Derivaten beschrieben. In Methanol-Extrakten von H. perforatum und H. tetrapterum konnten per HPLC(DAD)-MSn zwei Hauptkomponenten, die Tetrahydroxyxanthone THX-1 und -2, identifiziert werden, deren genaue Konfiguration bislang unbekannt war. Beide Substanzen wurden deshalb über chromatographische Auftrennung an Polyamid und Kieselgel aus dem Samenextrakt angereichert und mit Hilfe von 1D- und 2DNMR- Techniken eine Strukturanalyse vorgenommen. Durch Synthese von THX-1 und -2 und Vergleich ihrer chromatographischen sowie spektroskopischen/spektrometrischen Eigenschaften mit den natürlichen THX in H. perforatum wurde die exakte Konfiguration als 1,4,6,7-THX (THX-1) und 1,2,6,7-THX (THX-2) bestimmt. Die beiden neuartigen Verbindungen zeigten eine dreifach stärkere Radikalfängerwirkung im DPPH-Test als das wasserlösliche Vitamin E-Derivat Trolox® und sind somit starke Antioxidantien. Ferner konnte durch rasterelektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen (SEM) die zweilagige Struktur der Hypericum-Samenschale (Testa) gezeigt werden, wobei die Xanthone wahrscheinlich in der sehr dickwandigen, lignifizierten Skerenchymschicht eingelagert sind.Hypericum seeds have recently been identified as a natural source of different xanthone derivatives. Two main constituents, the tetrahydroxyxanthones THX-1 and -2, were identified in methanolic extracts of H. perforatum and H. tetrapterum by means of HPLC(DAD)-MSn methods. However, the exact configuration of both THX was unknown so far. For this reason, the two compounds were enriched by chromatography on polyamide and silica, and the corresponding fraction was investigated by 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. Based on a tentative structural assignment a total synthesis of THX-1 and -2 was performed. Comparing the chromatographic and spectroscopic/spectrometric features of synthetic THX-1 and -2 with their natural counterparts their exact configuration was determined as 1,4,6,7-THX (THX-1) and 1,2,6,7-THX (THX-2), respectively. The novel compounds exhibited a threefold higher radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay than the vitamin E derivative Trolox®. Hence, they are strong antioxidants. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided insights into the two-layer structure of the testa (seed coat), with the thick lignified sclerenchyma layer presumably being the depository of the xanthones

Essential Oils as Multicomponent Mixtures and Their Potential for Human Health and Well-Being

Essential oils (EOs) and their individual volatile organic constituents have been an inherent part of our civilization for thousands of years. They are widely used as fragrances in perfumes and cosmetics and contribute to a healthy diet, but also act as active ingredients of pharmaceutical products. Their antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties have qualified EOs early on for both, the causal and symptomatic therapy of a number of diseases, but also for prevention. Obtained from natural, mostly plant materials, EOs constitute a typical example of a multicomponent mixture (more than one constituent substances, MOCS) with up to several hundreds of individual compounds, which in a sophisticated composition make up the property of a particular complete EO. The integrative use of EOs as MOCS will play a major role in human and veterinary medicine now and in the future and is already widely used in some cases, e.g. , in aromatherapy for the treatment of psychosomatic complaints, for inhalation in the treatment of respiratory diseases, or topically administered to manage adverse skin diseases. The diversity of molecules with different functionalities exhibits a broad range of multiple physical and chemical properties, which are the base of their multi-target activity as opposed to single isolated compounds. Whether and how such a broad-spectrum effect is reflected in natural mixtures and which kind of pharmacological potential they provide will be considered in the context of ONE Health in more detail in this review

Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers

Correction: Nature Communications 10 (2019): art. 4386 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12095-8Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer (r(g) = 0.57, p = 4.6 x 10(-8)), breast and ovarian cancer (r(g) = 0.24, p = 7 x 10(-5)), breast and lung cancer (r(g) = 0.18, p = 1.5 x 10(-6)) and breast and colorectal cancer (r(g) = 0.15, p = 1.1 x 10(-4)). We also found that multiple cancers are genetically correlated with non-cancer traits including smoking, psychiatric diseases and metabolic characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant excess contribution of conserved and regulatory regions to cancer heritability. Our comprehensive analysis of cross-cancer heritability suggests that solid tumors arising across tissues share in part a common germline genetic basis.Peer reviewe

Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers

Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer (r(g) = 0.57, p = 4.6 x 10(-8)), breast and ovarian cancer (r(g) = 0.24, p = 7 x 10(-5)), breast and lung cancer (r(g) = 0.18, p = 1.5 x 10(-6)) and breast and colorectal cancer (r(g) = 0.15, p = 1.1 x 10(-4)). We also found that multiple cancers are genetically correlated with non-cancer traits including smoking, psychiatric diseases and metabolic characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant excess contribution of conserved and regulatory regions to cancer heritability. Our comprehensive analysis of cross-cancer heritability suggests that solid tumors arising across tissues share in part a common germline genetic basis

Phenolic compound profiles and their corresponding antioxidante capacity of purple pitaya (Hylocereus sp.) genotypes. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung

Folin-Ciocalteu and TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) assay together with the spectrophotometric determination of betalains were applied to investigate the correlation between phenolics and their contribution to the antioxidant capacity of five different Costa Rican genotypes of purple pitaya (Hylocereus sp.) and of H. polyrhizus fruits. Maximum antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and betalain contents were observed in the genotype 'Lisa'. While non-betalainic phenolic compounds contributed only to a minor extent, betalains were responsible for the major antioxidant capacity of purple pitaya juices evaluated. The phenolic pattern of each genotype was also thoroughly investigated using liquid chromatography coupled to positive electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry. In addition to the well known betalains previously reported in Hylocereus fruits, several biosynthetic precursors were detected. Notably, decarboxylated and dehydrogenated betalains were identified as genuine compounds of the juices. Some of these compounds were previously described as artifacts upon heat exposure. Moreover, gallic acid was identified for the first time in pitaya fruits. While the phenolic profiles generally differed between genotypes, phenolic compound composition of 'Rosa' resembled that of H. polyrhizus with respect to total contents of betacyanins, betalainic precursors, phyllocactin and cyclo-Dopa malonyl-glucosides