Antioxidant study of flavonoid derivatives from the aerial parts of Rhus natalensis growing in Saudi Arabia

Phytochemical study of the CH[2]Cl[2] soluble fraction of the aerial parts of R. natalensis resulted in the isolation and identification of six flavonoid derivatives, beta -amyrin and beta -sitosterol glucoside [daucosterol]. The isolated compounds were identified utilizing physical, chemical and different spectral methods including UV, 1D- 2D-NMR and MS. The compounds were identified as four flavanones; 7-O-methyl hesperetin [1], 7-O-methyl naringenin [4], [-]- homoeriodictyol [eriodictyonone] [5], eriodictyol-7-methyl ether [6] and two flavones; 7-O-methyl isokaemferide [2] and genkwanin [3]. The isolated compounds as well as some available standards representing structurally similar flavones and flavanones were used to study their antioxidant potential using DPPH and try to explore the impact of structures on the antioxidant activity. In other assays flavanones were less active than flavones as antioxidant due to lack of the C-4 carbonyl group in conjugation with 2,3-double bond. However, in DPPH assay based on the ability of molecules to donate hydrogen flavanones were found more active than flavones

Quantitative estimation of pulegone in Mentha longifolia growing in Saudi Arabia. is it safe to use?

Our TLC study of the volatile oil isolated from Mentha longifolia showed a major UV active spot with higher Rf value than menthol. Based on the fact that the components of the oil from same plant differ quantitatively due to environmental conditions, the major spot was isolated using different chromatographic techniques and identified by spectroscopic means as pulegone. The presence of pulegone in M. longifolia, a plant widely used in Saudi Arabia, raised a hot debate due to its known toxicity. The Scientific Committee on Food, Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General, European Commission set a limit for the presence of pulegone in foodstuffs and beverages. In this paper we attempted to determine the exact amount of pulegone in different extracts, volatile oil as well as tea flavoured with M. longifolia [Habak] by densitometric HPTLC validated methods using normal phase [Method I] and reverse phase [Method II] TLC plates. The study indicated that the style of use of Habak in Saudi Arabia resulted in much less amount of pulegone than the allowed limit

Densitometric HPTLC method for qualitative, quantitative analysis and stability study of coenzyme Q10 in Pharmaceutical formulations utilizing normal and reversed-phase silica gel plates

Two simple, preciseand stability-indicating densitometric HPTLC method were developed and validated for qualitative and quantitative analysis of Coenzyme Q10in pharmaceutical formulations using normal-phase [Method I] and reversed phase [Method II] silica gel TLC plates. Both methods were developed and validated with 10x20cm glassbacked plates coated with 0.2mm layers of either silica gel 60 F[254] [E-Merck, Germany] using hexane-ethyl acetate [8.5:1.5v/v] as developing system [Method I] or RP-18 silica gel 60 F[254] [E-Merck, Germany] using methanol-acetone [4:6v/v] as mobile phase [Method II]. Both analyses were scanned with a densitometer at 282 nm. Linearity was found in the ranges 50-800ng/spot [r[2]=0.9989] and 50-800ng/spot [r[2]=0.9987] for Method I and Method II respectively. Stability of Coenzyme Q10 was explored by the two methods using acid, base, hydrogen peroxide, temperature and different solvents. Due to the efficiency of the method in separating Coenzyme Q10 from other ingredients including its degradation products, it can be applied for quality control, standardization of different pharmaceutical formulations and stability study

Isolation of flavonoids from Delonix elata and determination of its rutin content using capillary electrophoresis

Delonix elata [L.] Gamble [Fabaceae] is an important, traditionally used plant in Saudi Arabia. It is used to relieve rheumatic pain, flatulence and the seeds are employed as purgatives. The aim of the present study was to isolate chemical constituents of the n-butanol fraction [BF] of D. elata and to find out, by capillary electrophoresis [CE], percentage of rutin present in this BF. Three quercetin glycosides and one kaempferol rutinoside were isolated from the BF of aerial parts of D. elata; namely, Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside-7-O-glucoside [1], Quercetin 3,7-diglucoside [2], Quercetin 3-0-rutinoside [RUT] [3] and Kaempferol 3-0-rutinoside [4]. Rutin, an active constituent has been reported to possess good pharmacological as well as therapeutic potentials. A sensitive and rapid procedure for quantitative determination of RUT by capillary electrophoresis was developed and its content was found to be 7.349 mg/gm, relative to n-butanol fraction and 18.373 mg%, relative to the dry powder of D. elata. The method could be recommended for approval and use in the pharmaceutical and food industries

Phytochemical and pharmacological study of Ficus cordata growing in Saudi Arabia

Phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Ficus cordata utilizing liquid-liquid fractionation and different chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of four furanocoumarins: psoralene [1], hydroxy isoimperatorin [2], oxypeucedanin hydrate [3] and dorsteniol [4], the flavone glycoside rutin [5], beta-sitosterol and sucrose. Structures of the isolated compounds were established through physical, 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS data. The total extract of the plant was examined in vivo for its possible effects as hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antiulcer and anticoagulant in comparison with standard drugs. Hepatoprotective activitys were accessed via serum biochemical parameters including aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], gamma glutamyl transpeptidase [GGT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and total bilirubin. Tissue parameters such as non-protein sulfhydryl groups [NP-SH], malonaldehyde [MDA] and total protein [TP] were also measured. In addition to tissue parameters, nephroprotective effect was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of sodium, potassium, creatinine and urea. Histopathological study for both liver and kidney cells was also conducted. Antiulcer activity was explored by observing stomach lesions after treatment with ethanol. Whole blood clotting time [CT] was taken as measure for the anticoagulant activity of the extract. All the studied parameters indicated that the total extract of Ficus cordata at 500 mg/kg possess moderate hepatoprotective effect, good protection against ethanol induced ulcer and weak nephroprotective effect. The CT was about one quarter of that of warfarin

Study of the hepatoprotective effect of Juniperus phoenicea constituents

Different fraction obtained from the aerial parts of Juniperus phoenicea showed significant activity as hepatoprotective when investigated against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury. The hepatoprotective activity was evaluated through the quantification of biochemical parameters and confirmed using histopathology study. Phytochemical investigation of the petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol fractions utilizing different chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of five known diterpenoids namely: 13-epicupressic acid [1], imbricatolic acid [2], 7 alpha -hydroxysandaracopimaric acid [3], 3 beta -hydroxysandaracopimaric acid [4], isopimaric acid [5], four flavonoid derivatives: cupressuflavone [6], hinokiflavone [7], hypolaetin-7-O- beta -xylopyranoside [9], [-] catechin [10], inaddition to sucrose [8]. Both physical and spectral data were used for structure determination and all isolates were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activity. Compounds 2 and 6 were effective, however; 7 was the most active. Hepatoprotective activity of 7 is comparable with the standard drug silymarin in reducing the elevated liver enzymes and restoring normal appearance of hepatocytes. Hepatoprotective effect of combination of 6, 7 and silymarin with the diterpene sugiol was also explored

Terpenoids from Juniperus procera with hepatoprotective activity

The petroleum ether fraction of Juniperus procera showed significant activity as hepatoprotective when investigated against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury. The hepatoprotective activity was evaluated through the quantification of biochemical parameters and confirmed using histopathology analysis. Phytochemical investigation of the petroleum ether fraction utilizing different chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of six known diterpenoids namely: 4-epi-abietol [1], ferruginol [2], hinokiol [3], sugiol [4], Z-communic acid [5] and hinokiol-1-one 3 beta, 12-dihydroxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-1-one] [6], in addition to the sesquiterpene 8 alpha -acetoxyelemol [7]. Both physical and spectral data were used for structure determination and all isolates were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activity. Compounds 1 and 4 were the most effective in reducing the elevated liver enzymes as indication for liver protection