C. T. Sulaiman

Total phenolics and total flavonoids in selected Indian medicinal plants.

Plant phenolics and flavonoids have a powerful biological activity, which outlines the necessity of their determination. The phenolics and flavonoids content of 20 medicinal plants were determined in the present investigation. The phenolic content was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The total flavonoids were measured spectrophotometrically by using the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay. The results showed that the family Mimosaceae is the richest source of phenolics, (Acacia nilotica: 80.63 mg gallic acid equivalents, Acacia catechu 78.12 mg gallic acid equivalents, Albizia lebbeck 66.23 mg gallic acid equivalents). The highest total flavonoid content was revealed in Senna tora which belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae. The present study also shows the ratio of flavonoids to the phenolics in each sample for their specificity.

Chromatographic Studies and in vitro Screening for Acetyl Cholinesterase Inhibition and Antioxidant Activity of three Acacia Species from South India

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the radical scavenging and anti AChE activity of three Acacia species collected from south India. Ethanolic extracts of three Acacia species collected from South India were analyzed for their activity towards acetylcholinestrase (AChE) enzyme and their antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using different in vitro techniques such as DPPH assay, NO quenching assay and ABTS assay. Anti-acetylcholinestrase activity was measured using Ellman;s method. The chemical profiling was done using HPLC. Most of the plant materials analyzed showed some inhibitory activity towards acetyl cholinesterase. Acacia catechu and Acacia leucophloea extracts were generally less potent. Acacia nilotica showed comparatively significant AChE activity. Acacia nilotica have good inhibitory properties and exhibited a dose dependent relationship (1 mgml−1, 27.65 %.; 5 mgml−1, 32.44 %; 15 mgml−1, 47.87%; 25 mgml−1 63.28 %). A. nilotica showed the highest NO quenching capacity (48.12 %), followed by A.catechu (44.1 %) and Acacia leucophloea (40.32 %) per 10 µg extract. The total antioxidant potential was found to be highest in Acacia nilotica (0.46 mmol/L TEAC/mg of extract). All the extracts had higher total antioxidant capacity in comparison of catechin. Higher values of AChE inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity were found for Acacia nilotica.

Isolation and identification of phytoestrogens and flavonoids in an Ayurvedic proprietary medicine using chromatographic and Mass Spectroscopic analysis

Abstract Objective To develop analytical methods for the isolation and structural identification of poly phenols including phytoestrogens in Mensokot tablet, a herbal proprietary medicine. Methods Isolation consisted of an ultrasound-assisted extraction, followed by acid hydrolysis and a final liquid-liquid extraction step in diethyl ether. Identification and structural characterisation was done by liquid chromatography coupled with Q-TOF-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Results Phytoestrogens such as Coumestrol, Genistein and Glycitein have been identified in Mensokot tablet along with several other flavonoids. Conclusions In the present research, a rapid HPLC-MS/MS method has been developed for the identification of phytoestrogens and other flavonoids from an Ayurvedic proprietary medicine. Phytoestrogens are considered to play an important role in the prevention of cancers, heart disease, menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis.

Characterization of Phenolic Compounds in Fruit Extracts of Three Medicinal Plants Using Liquid Chromatography-Negative Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract The characterization of phenolics was done in fruits of three medicinal plants such as Aegle marmelos, Terminalia chebula and Garcinia gummi-gutta using liquid chromatography coupled with Quadra pole mass spectroscopy in ESI negative mode. The accurate mass data for the molecular ions were processed using the software Mass Hunter work station (Agilent Technologies), which provided a list of possible elemental formulas generated using the Molecular featured extraction editor. The subsequent structural characterization was carried out by MS/MS fragmentation. The total phenolics of each sample were also estimated spectrophotometrically using Folin Ciocalteu method.

Chemical Profiling of an Indian Herbal Formula Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Electro Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Amruthotharam kashayam is an important Ayurvedic formulation prepared using specified plant parts of Tinospora cordifolia, Terminalia chebula, and Zingiber officinale. The current study developed a rapid liquid chromatographic method coupled with electro spray ionization mass spectrometry for the identification of major phytoconstituents present in the formulation. Reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatogram was developed as chemical fingerprint. The mass spectrum along with the MS/MS fragmentation on collision-induced dissociation led to the structural identification of separated compounds. Phenolic acids such as quinic acid, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, and chebulic acid were identified in the formulation along with some flavonoids.

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Selected Acacia species

Abstract The antioxidant activity of three Acacia species such as A. catechu, A. nilotica and A. leucophloea was evaluated using different in vitro techniques like DPPH assay, NO quenching assay, ABTS assay, Metal chelating activity, Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and Super oxide scavenging activity. Total phenolics, total flavonoids and total tannins were also determined spectrophotometrically. The characterization phenolic compounds were carried out by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Most of the fractions analyzed showed antioxidant activity. The major antioxidant compounds were further identified by tandem mass spectrometry. For the first time, p-coumaric acid was isolated from A. leucophloea and the characterization of the same was done using spectroscopic analysis.

LC/MS characterization of phenolic antioxidants of Brindle berry (Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Robson).

Abstract Characterisation of antioxidant fraction of the fruit of Garcinia gummi-gutta was done using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopic (LC/MS) analyses. Total poly phenolics and radical scavenging activity of various extracts such as acetone, methanol and hydroalcohol were estimated spectrophotometrically. The active extract was analysed by LC/MS in order to identify the molecular mass and tentative structures of major compounds. Phenolic compounds such as luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, kaempferol 3-O-(6-O-acetyl) glycoside, dicaffeoylquinic acid, apigenein-6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexoside and p-coumarylquinic acid were identified from hydro alcoholic extract of G. gummi-gutta.

Isolation and mass spectroscopic characterization of phytochemicals from the bark of Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd.

ABSTRACT Acacia leucophloea is a medicinal plant used traditionally for treating many diseases. In the present study, phytochemicals were isolated from the bark of A. leucophloea using multiple chromatographic techniques. The separation and isolation were done using column chromatography. The molecular masses of isolated compounds were assigned by electro spray ionization mass spectrometry. The subsequent structure characterization was carried out by a tandem mass spectrometric method. Fragmentation behavior of compounds was investigated using hexapole collision cell mass spectrometry in negative mode. Six phenolic compounds such as catechin, leuco-fisetinidin, gallic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, and O-methyl epicatechin were identified. Most of the compounds identified are first report from this plant.

Liquid chromatography– electro spray ionization mass spectroscopic analysis of Acacia species

A rapid liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) with positive ion detection method was developed and validated to determine major compounds present in the active fractions of three Acacia species. Different extracts of these three Acacia species were screened for their free radical scavenging activity. The total phenolic content was also determined in all the fractions of three species and identified methanolic fraction as active against free radicals. LC-MS analysis was carried out on methanolic fractions and identified masses of major compounds present.