ABSTRACT
Abstract Limonium brasiliense (Boiss.) Kuntze, Plumbaginaceae, is a coastal herb of the Southern Brazilian states and Rio de Janeiro State. In folk medicine, it is used in the treatment of female genitourinary tract infections and menstrual cycle irregularities. The aim of this study was to describe morpho-anatomical characters with details on venation pattern of L. brasiliense leaves, collected on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul State, in Southern Brazil. Leaf samples fixed in FAA50 (5% formaldehyde, 5% acetic acid and 90% ethanol: water mixture 50:50 v/v) and 1% glutaraldehyde and preserved in 70% ethanol, were histologically sectioned and analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. The L. brasiliense leaves were simple, entire, incomplete, oboval-lanceolate, venation penninervous and showed rosulated phyllotaxy, entire and revolute margin, with apex rounded to slightly retuse, base attenuate and venation pattern brochidodromous. On microscopic analysis, these leaves showed a thick and striated cuticle, salt glands, isobilateral mesophyll thicker in the apical region of the leaf blade, abundant aerenchyma in the petiole and main vein, collateral vascular bundles surrounded by fiber-sclereids, lipid substances in the cuticle and polyphenols in phloem cells.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Limonium brasiliense (Boiss.) Kuntze, Plumbaginaceae, is a plant from the southern coast of Brazilian that is used for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, menstrual disorders and genito-urinary infections. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality control parameters for rhizomes collected during different periods by pharmacopoeial and non-pharmacopoeial methods, and to develop and validate a HPLC-DAD method for quantitative control of marker substances. The measured parameters were: granulometric analysis (d50 = 0.21–0.48 mm), loss on drying (11.1–12.4%), total ash (4.9–5.7%), dry residue by extraction with acetone:water (7:3, v/v) (30.6–39.5%), total polyphenol content (8.5–15.8%), and chromatographic fingerprint by HPLC and TLC. Besides, the acetone:water (7:3, v/v) extraction solvent in combination with a turbo-extractor, yielded the crude extract with a significant increase in tannins (F4,20 = 37.0, p < 0.001). The antioxidant potential of the crude acetone:water (7:3, v/v) extract, as well as the ethyl acetate and water fractions obtained after the partition process was evaluated by DPPH and the results were, respectively: IC50 6.87, 5.91, and 6.92 µg/ml. The validation parameters for the HPLC-DAD method showed adequate specificity, precision and accuracy. The gallo- and epigallocatechin contents were, respectively, 0.8–2.7% and 1.2–2.2%. These data contribute to analysis of the pharmacognostic quality control of the commonly used part from this species.
ABSTRACT
AbstractGuaraná (Paullinia cupana Kunth, Sapindaceae) is well known for its dietary and pharmaceutical potential, and the semipurified extract of guaraná shows antidepressant and panicolytic effects. However, the low solubility, bioavailability and stability of the semipurified extract limit its use as a component of pharmaceutical agents. Delivery of the semipurified extract in a microparticle form could help to optimize its stability. In this study, microparticles containing semipurified extract of guaraná were obtained by the spray-drying technique, using a combination of maltodextrin and gum arabic. The raw materials and microparticles produced were characterized by particle size analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The drug content and antioxidant capacity were also evaluated. In vitrodissolution tests using flow cell dissolution apparatus, were carried out to investigate the influence of formulation parameters on the release of semipurified extract of guaraná from the microparticles. The spray-drying technique and the processing conditions selected gave satisfactory encapsulation efficiency (80–110%) and product yield (55–60%). The mean diameter of microparticles was around 4.5 µm. The DPPH radical scavenging capacity demonstrated that microparticles can protect the semipurified extract of guaraná from the effect of high temperatures during the process maintained the antioxidant capacity. Differential scanning calorimetry results indicated an interaction between semipurified extract of guaraná and gum arabic: maltodextrin in the microparticles, and thermogravimetric analysis indicate that the profile curves of the microparticles are similar to the adjuvants used in drying, probably due to the higher proportion of adjuvants compared to semipurified extract of guaraná. In vitro dissolution tests demonstrate that all formulations complete dissolution within 60 min. Microencapsulation improved the technological characteristics of the powders and preserved the antioxidant properties. The study demonstrated the feasibility of producing these microparticles for a one-step process using spray drying. The composition of each formulation influenced the physical and chemical characteristics. This spray-drying technique can be used as an efficient and economical approach to produce semipurified extract of guaraná microparticles.
ABSTRACT
The flowers of Tagetes patula L., Asteraceae, commonly known as French marigold, are used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, diuretic, blood purifier and insect repellent. This study was conducted to optimize the extraction process through the biomonitoring of flavonoids, using a statistical mixture simplex-centroid design, to evaluate the effect of the solvents water, ethanol and acetone, as well as mixtures of these solvents, assessed by the total flavonoid content. The extracts were tested for dry residue, radical scavenging activity, chromatographic profile, and larvicidal activity. The acetone extract had the highest total flavonoid content, 25.13 ± 1.02% (4.07%); and the best radical scavenging activity, with IC50 of 15.74 μg/ml ± 1.09 (6.92%), but with lower dry residue, 6.62 ± 1.33% (20.10%). The water extracts showed higher levels of dry residue, but lower total flavonoid content and radical scavenging activity than the acetone extract. The positive correlation between the total flavonoid content and radical scavenging activity of the extracts showed that flavonoids contribute significantly to the antioxidant capacity. The statistical mixture design allowed us to optimize the extraction of flavonoids from flowers of T. patula, with acetone as the best extraction solvent. Preliminary studies on the biological activity of the optimized extracts demonstrated a larvicidal effect of the acetone extract on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
ABSTRACT
Croton echioides Baill., Euphorbiaceae, is a small tree found in Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Its stem bark has been widely sold as an aphrodisiac and tonic, as a substitute for the roots of Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. Olacaceae, the Amazon Muira Puama or Marapuama, and C. echioides is characterized as the "Northeastern Marapuama". This contribution describes a morphoanatomical analysis and pharmacognostic study of stem bark of this species. The stem has a thick cortex with compound starch grains and laticifers; a sclerenchymatic sheath which consists of brachysclereids with large crystals externally to the phloem, and abundant fiber in the secondary xylem, as the main features of the species. The data obtained for water content (9.26±0.07%), water-soluble extractives (3.92±0.19%), total ash (1.24±0.06%) and acid-insoluble ash (0.16±0.01%), together with the chromatographic profile obtained by TLC, contribute to the quality control and standardization for the plant drug. The pharmacological screening indicated LD50 values above 500 mg/kg orally and equal to 500 mg/kg by the i.p. route, as well as some stimulant potential, depending on the dose.
ABSTRACT
The use of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a commonplace practice and can be of significant help to different laboratories with quality control, especially those that work with plant extracts and phytotherapeutics. This study evaluated ten species of plants (Schinus terebinthifolius; Arctium lappa; Trichilia catigua; Camellia sinensis; Mikania glomerata; Croton echioides; Achyrocline satureioides; Heteropterys aphrodisiaca; Plantago major; Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) that are commonly sold by compounding pharmacies, using TLC with reference substances and pharmacopoeic physical and chemical tests (loss on drying, level of extractives, and total ash content). The results showed that the ten species showed losses on drying consonant with the literature. The level of extractives for two species and total ash for five species were also consonant with the literature, and those of the other species were established in this study. The semipurified extracts of the ten species were assayed by TLC, and the analysis with the use of reference substances proved to be effective, in addition to being practical, simple, versatile, and economically viable.
ABSTRACT
As raízes de Heteropteris aphrodisiaca, denominadas de " nó-de-cachorro" , pela semelhança morfológica com o pênis canino, são usadas popularmente com ação afrodisíaca, estimulante e no tratamento de disenterias, tendo este estudo o objetivo de caracterizá-las morfoanatômica e fisico-quimicamente. Para as análises foram elaboradas lâminas histológicas e analisados extratos aquosos, hidro-etanólicos e cetônicos obtidos a partir de amostras coletadas no estado do Mato Grosso, nas diferentes estações do ano. Tais raízes são tuberosas, cilíndricas e recobertas por súber estriado de coloração marrom-escura. O córtex, composto por tecido parenquimático, não apresenta elementos esclerificados, mas mostra-se com abundância de drusas e cristais prismáticos de oxalato de cálcio, bem como de idioblastos contendo polifenóis. No xilema secundário são abundantes as fibras gelatinosas, típicas de raízes de espécies do cerrado brasileiro. As análises físico-químicas revelaram maiores perdas por dessecação nas amostras coletadas no verão e na primavera. A água foi considerada o melhor líquido extrator, o teor de cinzas totais das amostras variou de 3,4 por cento no verão a 5,3 por cento no outono, enquanto que os teores de polifenóis totais foram maiores na primavera (10,2 por cento) que nas demais estações, sugere-se esta estação como a mais apropriada para a coleta da droga vegetal. Análises cromatográficas em camada delgada e líquida de alta eficiência foram realizadas empregando-se marcadores flavonoídicos neoastilbina, astilbina e isoastilbina, com valores de Rf de 0,60, 0,68 e 0,74, e tempos de retenção de: 16,44, 16,91 e 18,08 min, respectivamente.
The roots of Heteropteris aphrodisiaca, called " nó-de-cachorro" (dog-knot) for their morphological similarity to the canine penis, are used in popular medicine as an aphrodisiac or stimulant, and to treat dysentery. The objective of the present study was to characterize these roots morphoanatomically and physico-chemically. For the analyses, histological slides were prepared, and aqueous, hydro-ethanol, and ketone extracts were analyzed, from root samples collected in the state of Mato Grosso, in different seasons of the year. The roots are tuberous, cylindrical, and covered with a striated suber. The cortex, composed of parenchymatous tissue, has no sclerified elements, but shows abundant druses and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, as well as idioblasts containing polyphenols. In the secondary xylem, gelatinous fibers are abundant, typical for the roots of species of the Brazilian cerrado (savanna). The physical and chemical analyses revealed greater losses through desiccation in the samples collected in spring and summer. Water was the best extraction liquid. Total ash content of the samples ranged from 3.4 percent in summer to 5.3 percent in autumn. Total phenol content was higher in spring (10.2 percent), suggesting this season as the most appropriate to harvest the plant drug. Chromatographic analyses through TLC and HPLC were employed using the flavonoids neoastilbin, astilbin, and isoastilbin as markers. The Rf values were 0.60, 0.68 and 0.74, and the retention time were 16.44, 16.91 and 18.08 min, respectively.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids/chemistry , Malpighiaceae/anatomy & histology , Malpighiaceae/chemistry , Quality ControlABSTRACT
Considerando-se a qualidade dos fitoterápicos, é importante salientar que a preocupação com esta questão inclui rigoroso acompanhamento das diferentes etapas do desenvolvimento e produção destes produtos, desde a coleta do vegetal até a disponibilidade do produto final. Neste trabalho foi realizado o controle da qualidade do fruto de Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, popularmente conhecido como jambolão. Para o controle físico-químico e microbiológico utilizaram-se metodologias farmacopéicas e não farmacopeicas. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o fruto apresenta um teor de taninos de 4,2 por cento e a análise fitoquímica preliminar dos frutos de S. cumini evidenciou taninos, flavonóides, antocianidinas, iridóides, alcalóides e heterosídeos fenólicos simples. A análise microbiológica não apresentou crescimento de patógenos entre os outros testes realizados. Destaca-se a importância do estabelecimento de normas para o controle da qualidade para as plantas, a fim de que sejam utilizadas com finalidade fitoterápica.
Considering the quality of the phytotherapic agents, it is important to point out that the concern with this subject includes rigorous attendance of the different steps of the development and production of these products, from the collection of the vegetable to the availability of the final product. In this work the quality control of the Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels fruit, popularly known as jambolão, was carried out. Pharmacopoeic and no pharmacopoeic methodologies were employed to physico-chemical and microbiological quality control. The obtained results showed that the fruits presents a content of tannins of 4.2 percent, the preliminary phytochemical analysis of the S. cumini fruits evidenced tannins, flavonoids, antocianidin, iridoids, alkaloids and heterosides simple phenols. The microbiological analysis didnÆt present phatogenic growth among the other accomplished tests. The work stands out the importance of the establishment of norms for the quality control for the plants, so that they are used with phytotherapic purpose.