Raw Medicinal Plant Materials Research Articles

Валидация методики определения ртути, свинца, кадмия и мышьяка в лекарственном растительном сырье и лекарственных средствах на его основе методом масс-спектрометрии с индуктивно-связанной плазмой

Описана процедура валидации методики анализа содержания нормируемых элементных токсикантов в лекарственном растительном сырье на масс-спектрометре с индуктивно-связанной плазмой при использовании микроволновой кислотной минерализации. Предлагаемая методика пробоподготовки обеспечивает максимальный переход тяжелых металлов в раствор при неполном разложении органической матрицы с помощью концентрированной азотной кислоты. Для оценки применимости методики были выбраны образцы разных морфологических частей растений: корневища аира, трава череды, плоды можжевельника. На основании полученных экспериментальных данных была проведена оценка линейности, предела количественного определения, правильности, сходимости и внутрилабораторной прецизионности валидируемой методики. На основе определенных коэффициентов извлечения мышьяка, свинца, ртути и кадмия были рассчитаны стандартные отклонения, коэффициенты вариации, доверительные интервалы, систематические погрешности, F-критерии Фишера и t-критерии Стьюдента. Показано, что полученные статистические характеристики удовлетворяют критериям приемлемости валидационных параметров, представленным в отечественной и зарубежной нормативной документации.

The influence of clonal micropropagation on productivity and differentiation of Mentha pіperіta plant tissues

Peppermint grass, as a raw medicinal plant material, has great importance for the pharmaceutical industry. The influence of clonal micropropagation and chemotherapy has been established in vitro on six breeds of Ukrainian selection peppermint plants, in particular on the sprouts’ conductive system structure and tissue development, general biomass accumulation, and in vivo productivity of breeds. The influence of clonal micropropagation and chemotherapy on important productivity indices of the plants has been established in vitro in six breeds of Ukrainian selection peppermint plants as pharmacopeial plants. The linear meter method, the microscopic method, the standard histochemical methods, and the statistical analysis method were used in the studies. A clear tendency to increase in the leaf cover, air-dry leafage and rhizome was observed in breeds of Ukrainian selection peppermint to which propagation and in vitro improvement technology was applied. The air-dry leafage yield significantly increased after in vitro culture from 7.6% in the Lidiia breed to 51.4% in the Chornolysta breed recognized as a state mint standard in Ukraine. The leaf cover increased from 8% to 21% in peppermint plants improved in іn vitro culture. This method promoted essential oil quantity increase from 9.8 to 28.6 kg per hectare. The rhizome yield increased by 6.3–40.4% in all peppermint plants breeds after improvement in in vitro culture on average within one vegetation year. The Lebedyna Pisnіa and Mama breeds were characterised by the most intensive development of all investigated anatomic and morphological indices after in vitro culture: rhizomes yield increased by 40.4% and 40.1%, air-dry leafage by 37.1% and 26.6%, leaf cover by 21.0% and 13.0%, and essential oil quantity per hectare increased by 38.1% and 28.5% accordingly. Anatomical and histochemical studies of sprouts of Ukrainian selection peppermint plants breeds confirmed increase in xylogenesis intensity in the majority of the studied breeds (except Lidiia and Ukrains’ka Pertseva) after in vitro culture improvement. The xylogenesis process was most expressed in the Mama and Chornolysta breeds. Air-dry leafage, rhizome yield, and leaf cover increased in all peppermint plants breeds after in vitro improvement, which could be critical for the pharmaceutical industry.

DNA Authentication of St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) Commercial Products Targeting the ITS Region

There is considerable potential for the use of DNA barcoding methods to authenticate raw medicinal plant materials, but their application to testing commercial products has been controversial. A simple PCR test targeting species-specific sequences within the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was adapted to screen commercial products for the presence of Hypericum perforatum L. material. DNA differing widely in amount and extent of fragmentation was detected in a number of product types. Two assays were designed to further analyse this DNA using a curated database of selected Hypericum ITS sequences: A qPCR assay based on a species-specific primer pair spanning the ITS1 and ITS2 regions, using synthetic DNA reference standards for DNA quantitation and a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) assay separately targeting the ITS1 and ITS2 regions. The ability of the assays to detect H. perforatum DNA sequences in processed medicines was investigated. Out of twenty different matrices tested, both assays detected H. perforatum DNA in five samples with more than 103 ITS copies µL−1 DNA extract, whilst the qPCR assay was also able to detect lower levels of DNA in two further samples. The NGS assay confirmed that H. perforatum was the major species in all five positive samples, though trace contaminants were also detected.

Assessment of microbiological quality of raw medicinal plants used for the preparation of Ayurvedic drugs

The present study was carried out to know the microbiological quality of raw medicinal plant material available in the market used for the preparation of Ayurvedic drugs. The raw medicinal plant samples tested contained fungi viz. Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium spp., Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp., Alternaria alternata, Fusarium spp. and bacteria viz. Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Klebsiella spp. The presence of Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium spp. in samples suggest there might be chances of mycotoxin presence. The presence of “Enterobacteriaceae family and other firmicutes bacteria” reflect the situation regarding fecal contamination. Out of 20 samples, 7 samples for bacteria and 18 samples for fungi were exceeded their individual permissble limit set by WHO.

POWDER MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF THE FRUITS OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS LINN COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS OF SOUTH INDIA–A COMPARATIVE STDY

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of present study includes the collection of <em>Tribulus terrestris</em> fruit samples from three geographical locations of south India. Whose powder microscopical characters were assessed by the comparative study by using standard pharmacognostic methods prescribed in standard reference books to ensure quality and identity of all three fruit samples.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Collected fruit samples were shade dried and pulverised to get the coarse powder. Fruit powder has taken on a micro slide and treated with various colouring reagents to give colour to various tissues by following standard pharmacognostic methods prescribed in reference books. The slide was mounted by adding glycerine and observed under the microscope.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The fruits consist of five triangular cocci which develop from the penta carpellary syncarpous ovary. Each coccus has two long sharp and two short spines. All fruits showed significant variation in the diameter, radial length of the coccus and length of the spines. The tomentum in fruit sample 3 is less when compared with fruit samples 1 and 2. The entire growth period in all geographical regions, the basic characters of cell inclusions like thick-walled parenchyma cells, epidermal, sclerenchymatous, prismatic calcium oxalate crystals and type of cells like sclereids (fibre sclereids and brachy sclereids), trichomes (short, long and thick-walled trichomes) and their pattern of arrangement are almost same.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Three geographically different fruit samples showed variation in the quantity of cell inclusions and size of sclereids, trichomes and wall thickness of parenchymatous, epidermal and sclerenchymatous cells. All three fruit samples showed significant variation in morphological characters. Powder microscopic observation can be employed to detect the source of adulteration in powdered raw medicinal plant materials.</p>

Разделение и определение жирорастворимых витаминов А, D<sub>2</sub>, Е и β-каротина при совместном присутствии методом ступенчатого элюирования в тонком слое сорбента

Разработана методика определения и разделения жирорастворимых витаминов методом ступенчатой тонкослойной хроматографии при совместном присутствии. Показана возможность теоретического подхода к выбору оптимальных условий хроматографического определения токоферола ацетата, ретинола ацетата, эргокальциферола и бета-каротина в тонком слое сорбента. Проведена валидация разработанной методики по показателям – предел обнаружения, специфичность, эффективность и повторяемость. Методика может быть использована в контроле качества комплексных поливитаминных препаратов, лекарственного растительного сырья, а также растительных масел, масляных экстрактов и биологически активных добавок на их основе.

Trace Metals Accumulation in Bacopa monnieri and Their Bioaccessibility

Bacopa monnieri is commonly known as "Brahmi" or "Water hyssop" and is a source of nootropic drugs. Aboveground parts of plant samples collected from peri-urban Indian areas were analysed for total trace metal concentrations. Subsequently, three samples with high concentrations of Cd and Pb were subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion to assess the bioaccessibility of the trace metals in these plants. The total concentrations of trace metals on a dry weight basis were 1.3 to 6.7 mg·kg⁻¹ Cd, 1.5 to 22 mg·kg⁻¹ Pb, 36 to 237 mg·kg⁻¹ Cu, and 78 to 186 mg·kg⁻¹ Zn. The majority of Bacopa monnieri samples exceeded threshold limits of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn for use as raw medicinal plant material or direct consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate Bacopa monnieri collected in nature for their trace metal content prior to human consumption and preparation of herbal formulations.

Comparative powder microscopy of Alpinia calcarata Roscoe and Alpinia galanga (Linn.) Willd

Medicinal plant materials are being adulterated in commerce due to many reasons such as similar morphological features, same name as written in classical text, presence of similar active principles in the substituted plant etc., that may badly affect the therapeutic activity of the finished products. Therefore, systematic identification is becoming essential in order to produce standardized finished herbal products. The present study includes two medicinal plant rhizomes; Alpinia calcarata Roscoe (Heenaratta) and A. galanga (Linn.) Willd (Aratta) whose microscopical build up was different from each other and was assessed by standard Pharmacognostical methods. Diagnostic identification characters of A. calcarata were compound starch grins, triangular-shaped starch grains, and plenty of simple starch grains in one parenchyma cell compared to that of A. galanga. Diamond-shaped silica crystals were found only on A. galanga rhizome powder. Present study has revealed an easy technique to identify two similar medicinal plant materials microscopically and this method can also be employed to detect the degree of adulteration in powdered raw medicinal plant materials as well.

Application of techniques in collection and harvesting of herbal medicine

Interest in traditional medicine and in particular herbal medicine has increased in both developed and developing countries over the past two decades. Some reported adverse events following the use of certain herbal medicines have been associated with a variety of possible explanations, including the inadvertent use of the wrong plant species, adulteration with undeclared other medicines. The safety and quality of raw medicinal plant materials and finished products depend on factors that may be classified as intrinsic or extrinsic. However, quality control for the cultivation and collection of medicinal plants as the raw materials for herbal medicines may be more demanding than that for food production; possibly for this reason, only China, the European Union, and Japan have recently developed guidelines on good agricultural practices for medicinal plants. Medicinal plants should be harvested during the optimal season or time period to ensure the production of medicinal plant materials and finished herbal products of the best possible quality. The time of harvest depends on the plant part. Detailed information concerning the appropriate timing of harvest is often available in national pharmacopoeias, published standards, official monographs and major reference books. Prior to initiating a collection expedition, the geographical distribution and population density of the target medicinal plant species should be determined. When the collection sites have been identified, local and/or national collection permits should be obtained. Essential information on the target species should be obtained. Results of this article showed new techniques in collection and harvesting and drying of herbal medicines.

Obtaining Handeliae trichophyllae liquid extract

The technology of liquid extraction of Handeliae trichophyllae flowers has been developed with the use of methods of mathematical planning of experiment. The proposed scheme represents a four-factorial asymmetrical fractional plan based on a Latin parallelepiped of the first order. Factors influencing the degree of extraction of the active substances from the raw medicinal plant material included solvent (ethyl alcohol) concentration, degree of raw material comminution (fractional composition), extraction time, and temperature. The parameters of optimization were the extract density, the content of ethereal oils, and the results of antiinflammatory activity testing in vivo.

Polychlorobiphenyl Content in Infusions and Decoctions Prepared from Raw Medicinal Plant Materials of the Altai Region

The content of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in 129 samples of raw medicinal plant materials collected in the Rubtsovsk Region of the Altai Territory was determined by methods of capillary chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using an HP 5890A gas chromatograph equipped with an HP 5972A mass-spectrometric detector and an autosampler. The content of PCBs in all samples exceeds the content of other chlorine-containing organic pesticides. In the infusions and decoctions prepared from the raw materials studied, the PCB concentration falls within 0.1 – 9.8 ng/g, which does not exceed 57.86% of the toxicant content in the initial raw materials. The maximum degree of PCB transfer from the raw materials to extracts was observed for samples with an initial toxicant content within 10.0 ng/g. The maximum PCB concentrations were found in decoctions prepared from the underground parts of the plants studied, while the maximum degrees of transfer were observed in decoctions prepared from fruits.

Licorice grass: The current state of research and prospects for utilization (a review)

Comprehensive processing and use of raw medicinal plant materials is an important current task [1]. The herbs of licorice (I) (Glycyrrhiza genus) always have been an object of large-scale purchase and consumption in oue country and an important item of export [2, 3]. However, the main stocks of these herbs are now located outside Russia. This situation makes problems pertaining to the study of licorice herbs even more important, including the task of developing a comprehensive processing technology based on the complete use of the whole mass of raw plant materials [4, 5]. Chemico-technological investigations of the commercially significant species of Glycyrrhiza genus and the practical implementation of the results of these studies served as the basis for the development of the "Russian Licorice" Program [6]. The Chair of Drug Technology at the Pyatigorsk State Pharmaceutical Academy has been engaged for a long time with the task of complex characterization of I and search for ways of effective use of the above-ground mass of the plant. Extensive investigations allowed many of these problems to be solved [ 1, 4, 7]. However, nowhere near all of the potential of this raw material has been exhausted by now. Because licorice is an extraordinary plant that can be used for many purposes, the interest in this plant is currently increasing. For this reason, it would be important and useful to assess the resuits of investigations performed to the present and outline the future prospects in this field. From very ancient times, the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra (commonly known as licorice) have been used in medicine for the therapy of various diseases. At present, there are several effective drugs produced from licorice roots. More than 400 patents are related to this raw material [81.