Effect-directed analysis for the antioxidant compound in Salvia verticillata

Salvia genus is one of the largest genera of the Lamiaceae family. Its species have been used for a wide variety of disorders in the local traditional medicine systems. Therefore, the genus has been the subject of several phytochemical and biological studies. The aim of the study was to identify the major antioxidant compound[s] from the methanol extract of Salvia verticillata using activity-guided fractionation. The crude extract showed strong antioxidant activities in DPPH and beta-carotene/linoleic acid tests. The ethyl acetate fraction also exhibited a potent free radical scavenging activity compared to the other fractions. Further fractionation and purification of the ethyl acetate fraction using chromatography methods yielded a compound with high antioxidant capacity. The isolated active compound was determined as chrysoeriol. It showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity with an IC[50] [DPPH scavenging] value of 93.32 [80.23 - 108.57] mM

TLC-Bioautography and GC-MS analyses for detection and identification of antioxidant constituents of trachyspermum copticum essential oil

The present work was designed to study the antioxidant activity and to identify the main active components of the essential oil of ajowan [Trachyspermum copticum] fruit. GC and GC-MS analyses of the essential oil showed the presence of eight compounds. The main constituents of the oil were thymol [43.7%], p-cymene [26.8%], and ?-terpinene [24.9%]. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of ajowan oil was evaluated by using ABTSo+ and Beta -carotene bleaching assays. The oil exhibited a considerable dose-dependent antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity guided fractionation of the oil was carried out by TLC-bioautography method based on the DPPHo assay to screen and separate the main active constituents. The bioautography screening and fractionation resulted in the separation of the main antioxidant compound which was identified as thymol

Bioactivity-guided separation of an alpha-amylase inhibitor flavonoid from salvia virgata

It is now believed that the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes [CHEs] in the digestive tract can significantly prolong the overall carbohydrate digestion time and decrease the postprandial hyperglycemia after a meal. Therefore, inhibitors of CHEs can be useful therapeutic approaches in the management of diabetes mellitus, especially in the type 2, and complications associated with the disease. In our previous study, the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Salvia virgata showed an inhibitory effect on pancreatic alpha-amylase in-vitro. Bioassay guided fractionation of the extract using the alpha-amylase inhibitory assay led to the isolation and identification of an active flavone compound, chrysoeriol. The compound concentration dependently inhibited the alpha-amylase activity with an IC[50] value of 1.27 [1.21-1.33] mM

Screening of antioxidant properties of seven umbelliferae fruits from Iran

Antioxidative activities [IC50] of ethanol extracts from seven Umbelliferae fruits [Bunium persicum, Coriandrum sativum, Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Heracleum persicum, Pimpinella anisum and Trachyspermum copticum] have been studied by the DPPH [2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl] radical scavenging test. All the studied extracts showed antioxidant capability and P. anisum extract exhibited the strongest activity. The scavenging activity of the extracts in decreasing order was: P. anisum > T. copticum > C. cyminum > F. vulgare >/= B. persicum >/= C. sativum > H. persicum. The extracts were also investigated regarding their total flavonoid contents by the AlCl[3] technique. The decreasing order of the flavonoid content of the extracts was: C. cyminum > T. copticum > P. anisum >/= H. persicum >/= B. persicum >/= F. vulgare >/= C. sativum. However, a favorable correlation was not found between the antioxidant activity and the total flavonoid content of the extracts. As well, the most active extract [i.e. P. anisum] was partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate to yield three organic fractions together with the remaining aqueous fraction. The antioxidative activities [IP%] and flavonoid contents of the fractions were also determined. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest activity and content. A positive correlation was found between the antioxidant potency and flavonoid content of the fractions

Diuretic effect of powdered Cerasus avium [cherry] tails on healthy volunteers

In this study, the diuretic activity of powdered cherry stalk was evaluated in 13 healthy volunteers by means of their water balance. In addition to biochemical parameters, such as urinary electrolyte concentration, osmolality and any adverse reaction were determined. The capsules of cherry stalks were administered at an equivalent dose of 2.0 grams of the plant per person. Urinary biochemical determination was made of concentration of electrolytes [sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium], urinary volume and osmolality by standard laboratory procedures. Statistical evaluation was performed by Student's-t and Wilcoxon rank tests. After administration of cherry stalk, the mean of urine calcium, sodium, chloride, and urine volume increased, but the amount of urine potassium and urine osmolality did not change. No adverse reaction was observed. Powdered C. avium stalk increased mild urine volume confirming thus the claimed diuretic effect of the herb. Administration of cherry stalk caused urinary sodium and chloride rising less than loop diuretics but higher than the others. Because of rising calcium excretion, it should be used with cautious in those with urolithiasis

In vitro free radical scavenging activity of five salvia species

The radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extracts from five Salvia species including S. hypoleuca Benth., S. reuterana Boiss., S. verticillata L., S. virgata Jacq. and S. officinalis L. [as the reference plant with well documented free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties] was evaluated in vitro with the spectrophotometric method based on the reduction of the stable DPPH free radical. All the extracts showed radical scavenging activity, especially S. verticillata [IC[50] - 23.53 [20.56-26.93] micro g ml[-1]] and S. virgata [IC[50] = 27.01 [24.08-30.29] micro g ml[-1]] were found to be the most active species. Furthermore, the extracts were investigated regarding their total flavonoid content [TFC] by Aids reagent. The extracts S. hypoleuca [TFC = 53.16 +/- 1.95 micro g mg[-1]] and S. reuterana [TFC = 46.97 +/- 4.43 micro g mg [-1]] had the highest content of flavonoid. However, a favourable correlation was not found between the radical scavenging potency and the total flavonoid content. This study suggests that S. verticillata and S. virgata are the possible sources of natural radical scavengers