A Simple and Reliable Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction with Smartphone-Based Digital Images for Determination of Carbaryl Residues in Andrographis paniculata Herbal Medicines Using Simple Peroxidase Extract from Senna siamea Lam. Bark.

A simple and reliable dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with smartphone-based digital images using crude peroxidase extracts from cassia bark (Senna siamea Lam.) was proposed to determine carbaryl residues in Andrographis paniculata herbal medicines. The method was based on the reaction of 1-naphthol (hydrolysis of carbaryl) with 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, using peroxidase enzyme simple extracts from cassia bark as biocatalysts under pH 6.0. The red product, after preconcentration by DLLME using dichloromethane as extraction solvent, was measured for blue intensity by daily life smartphone-based digital image analysis. Under optimized conditions, good linearity of the calibration graph was found at 0.10-0.50 mg·L-1 (r2 = 0.9932). Limits of detection (LOD) (3SD/slope) and quantification (LOQ) (10SD/slope) were 0.03 and 0.09 mg·L-1, respectively, with a precision of less than 5%. Accuracy of the proposed method as percentage recovery gave satisfactory results. The proposed method was successfully applied to analyze carbaryl in Andrographis paniculata herbal medicines. Results agreed well with values obtained from the HPLC-UV method at 95% confidence level. This was simple, convenient, reliable, cost-effective and traceable as an alternative method for the determination of carbaryl.

Supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Cinnamomum cassia bark: toxicity and repellency against two stored-product beetle species.

The extract from Cinnamomum cassia Presl bark was obtained with supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SFE). Chemical components of the SFE extract were characterized by GC-MS spectrometry. The repellency and contact toxicity of the SFE extract were evaluated against the adults of Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne along with those of its two main compounds. The results of GC-MS analysis indicated that 33 volatile constituents were identified from the extract. The main components included trans-cinnamaldehyde (32.1%), 3,3-dimethylhexane (10.6%) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (7.9%). Testing results showed that the SFE extract had potent contact toxicity against T. castaneum and L. serricorne with LD50 values of 3.96 and 23.89 µg/adult, respectively. LD50 values of trans-cinnamaldehyde against T. castaneum and L. serricorne were 5.78 and 3.24 µg/adult, respectively. Additionally, percentage repellency values of the SFE extract and trans-cinnamaldehyde against T. castaneum and L. serricorne were rather high (PR = 100% and PR > 90%, respectively) at 78.63 and 15.73 nL/cm2 at 2 h post-exposure. 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol showed some repellency against both beetle species. Considering its insecticidal and repellent effects, the SFE extract from C. cassia bark might be used in integrated pest management programs for T. castaneum and L. serricorne.

Extraction time and temperature affect the extraction efficiencies of coumarin and phenylpropanoids from Cinnamomum cassia bark using a microwave-assisted extraction method.

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), an efficient extraction tool, was employed to extract a coumarin and five phenylpropanoids (cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamaldehyde, 2-hydroxycinnamadehyde, and 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde) from Cinnamomum cassia bark using water as the extraction solvent. Six marker compounds were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector using a validated analytical method. To investigate the influences of temperature and time on the extraction yields of the six marker compounds, the water extracts of C. cassia bark were prepared using a MAE method at six different extraction temperatures (70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and 95°C) and times (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12min). Their influences were assessed by multiple regression analysis. The results obtained demonstrated that higher extraction temperature and longer extraction time positively affected coumarin and cinnamyl alcohol contents, but negatively affected extract contents of cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (all p-<0.05). The extraction of 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde was affected by both positively and negatively by increasing temperature and time. These changes during MAE were assumed by the chemical natures of the marker compounds with various functional groups. In conclusion, temperature and times significantly affected the extraction efficiencies of a coumarin and five phenylpropanoids from C. cassia bark when a water-based MAE method was used. This study provides a novel approach to the preparation of the water extract of C. cassia bark using MAE.

Cinnamon and its Components Suppress Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation by Up-Regulating Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors.

Cinnamomum cassia bark has been used in traditional herbal medicine to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases. However, the antiproliferative effect of cinnamon extract on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the corresponding restenosis has not been explored. Hence, after examining the effect of cinnamon extract on VSMC proliferation, we investigated the possible involvement of signal transduction pathways associated with early signal and cell cycle analysis, including regulatory proteins. Besides, to identify the active components, we investigated the components of cinnamon extract on VSMC proliferation. Cinnamon extract inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced VSMC proliferation and suppressed the PDGF-stimulated early signal transduction. In addition, cinnamon extract arrested the cell cycle and inhibited positive regulatory proteins. Correspondingly, the protein levels of p21 and p27 not only were increased in the presence of cinnamon extract, also the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was inhibited by cinnamon extract. Besides, among the components of cinnamon extract, cinnamic acid (CA), eugenol (EG) and cinnamyl alcohol significantly inhibited the VSMC proliferation. Overall, the present study demonstrates that cinnamon extract inhibited the PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of VSMCs through a G0/G1 arrest, which down-regulated the expression of cell cycle positive regulatory proteins by up-regulating p21 and p27 expression.

Studies on the potential protective effect of cinnamon against bisphenol A- and octylphenol-induced oxidative stress in male albino rats.

Among the numerous chemicals discharged into the surrounding environment, bisphenol A (BPA) and octylphenol (OP) have been shown to increase oxidative stress in body by disturbing the prooxidant/antioxidant balance of cells. Cinnamon aqueous extract (CAE) is a natural product rich in polyphenolic compounds that have antioxidant activity. This study was designed to investigate the protective efficacy of CAE against oxidative disorders induced by BPA and OP in male albino rats. Animals were divided into 6 groups (10 rats each) and treated orally, 3 times weekly for 50 days. Group 1: control vehicle (olive oil); group 2 (25 mg BPA/kg b.wt./day); group 3 (25 mg OP/kg b.wt./day); group 4 (200 mg CAE/kg b.wt./day); group 5 (CAE 2 h before BPA administration); and group 6 (CAE 2 h before OP administration). BPA- and OP-exposed groups showed insignificant elevation in the final body weight; weight gains and significant reduction only in the relative kidneys weight. Also, BPA and OP exposure resulted in significant increase in serum urea, creatinine and kidney, brain, testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Significant reduction in tissues reduced glutathione (GSH) contents; catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were also recorded in BPA and OP exposed animals compared to the control vehicle group. Pretreatment with CAE 2 h either before BPA or OP administration ameliorated the BPA- and OP-induced body weight; weight gains and relative organs weight changes and biochemical adverse effects. CAE pretreatment also protected against the recorded pathological changes in kidney, brain and testis. In conclusion, CAE could ameliorate the oxidative toxic effects of BPA and OP indicating its protective antioxidant effect.

Optimization of Extraction Process of Volatile Oil from Wenyang Purgation Granules by Orthogonal Design / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To optimize the extraction conditions of volatile oil from Angelica Sinensis and Cassia Bark in Wenyang purgation granules.Methods The volatile oil was extracted from Angelica Sinensis and Cassia Bark by the method of steam distillation light oil device with diethyl ether extraction. The yield of the volatile oil was chosen as the evaluation index. The time of dip in water, the ratio of water to herbal medicine material and the time of distillation were used as the main factors. The optimum extraction conditions were investigated by the L9(34) orthogonal design. Results The optimal conditions for extraction process of volatile oil from Angelica Sinensis and Cassia Bark in Wenyang purgation granules were as follows:the time of dip in water was 3 h;the ratio of water to herbal medicine material was 10∶1;the time of distillation was 6 h. Conclusion The optimized conditions of extraction process are stable and feasible.