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Rose hip (Rosa canina L.) oil obtained from waste hip seeds by different extraction methods

From the rose hip seed, which is generally a waste material, valuable oil can be obtained for medicinal use. Various extraction methods have been compared: traditional solvent extraction with ultrasound-, microwave-, sub- and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Unsaturated fatty acid (UFA: oleic-, linoleic- and linolenic acid; 16.25-22.11%, 35.94-54.75%, 20.29-26.48%) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA:linoleic- and linolenic acid) content were over 90% and 60% in the recovered oils. The oils contained different amounts of metals. The concentration of some metals, particularly iron in microwave oil (27.11 microg g(-1)) is undesirable from the aspect of stability. By traditional solvent extraction, oil was obtained in 4.85 wt/wt%. Subcritical FE appeared to be the best method for the recovery of rose hip oil with highest oil yield (6.68 wt/wt%), carotene- (145.3 microg g(-1)) and linoleic acid content (54.75%). Supercritical FE without organic solvent is suitable for mild recovery of oil. The oil was rich in UFA and PUFA (92.7% and 76.25%) and contained the lowest amount of carotene and pheophytin (36.3 and 45.8 microg g(-1)). Oil yield in most new extraction methods (microwave extraction, super- and subcritical FE) was higher than in the case of traditional Soxhlet extraction. The main benefit of supercritical FE with CO2 is the solvent free oil while in the case of other extractions evaporation of the solvent is needed. Although the content of bioactive compounds in oils was different, all oils may be appropriate for medicinal use.

Potassium–sodium ratio for the characterization of medicinal plant extracts with diuretic activity

Atomic emission spectrometry was applied for the determination of potassium and sodium concentrations in crude drugs and decoctions. The content of the two elements and potassium–sodium ratios of medicinal plant extracts were measure as a basis for evaluating diuretic activity. The potassium–sodium ratios were higher in the diuretic plant decoctions, than in crude drug decoctions used for different activities.

Antioxidant property of volatile oils determined by the ferric reducing ability

Some current oils and their main components were studied to determine their antioxidant values. This was done by using the modified method of ferric reducing ability of plasma. It has been established that volatile oils of medicinal plants have on average a reducing capacity of 3.5-220 mmol/kg oil. The reducing capacities of the main constituents of volatile oils are 0.165-65.5 mmol/kg in concentrated oils. The highest reducing capacity was showd for phellandrene (65.438 ± 0.166 mmol/kg) and anethole (50.087 ± 0.160 mmol/kg) while the lowest values were obtained for menthol (0.165 ± 0.023 mmol/kg) and menthone (0.168 ± 0.010 mmol/kg). It has been stated that the antioxidant values of the main constituents are lower than those of volatile oils. The reducing capacity of the main constituents of medicinal plant drugs at different concentrations was also determined.

Effect of sample handling on alkaloid and mineral content of aqueous extracts of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.)

The authors examined the extraction of alkaloids from the greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) by different methods (traditional pressing and tea making, microwave and supercritical fluid extraction). The extractants were water and propylene glycol. For comparison of the extraction methods, the yield was evaluated according to total alkaloid content measured by spectroscopy. The highest alkaloid yield was obtained by microwave extraction and by making tea. Distribution of the components was studied by thin-layer chromatography and densitometry. The concentration and the ratio of alkaloid components in extracts are significantly different depending on the extraction method. The solution obtained by supercritical fluid extraction contains coptisine and chelidonine, while berberine could be obtained by microwave extraction only. Extracts with high coptisine content were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction, followed by pressing and microwave extraction. Mineral element content of the drug and extracts was also determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Element content (Na, Ca, Fe) was found to be highest in microwave extracts.

In vitro study on the transfer of volatile oil components

The following volatile oils were tested in vitro: chamomile (Matricaria recutica L.), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.) to obtain information on which components of volatile oils or minerals are able to pass through the membranes under different conditions. The transfer of chamomile and peppermint oil from aqueous volatile oil to the stomach (pH=1.1) and then to the plasma (pH=7.5) was studied, and the transfer of sage oil through the skin (from pH=5.5 to pH=7.5) was examined. The transfer of some components was more favorable than that of others. The transfer of chamomile oil was faster to buffer pH=1.1 than from buffer pH=1.1 to buffer pH=7.5 and most of the components, except for chamazulene, passed through the membranes. In the case of peppermint the components went through the membranes in the first 15 min although the main components mostly remained in the initial solution. The sage oil transferred showed the same characteristics as the starting oil. A small amount of metal present in the volatile oils also passed through the membranes. The transfer of metals varied, depending on the time, type of the oil, metal quality and the conditions applied.

In vitro study of elements in herbal remedies.

Decreased glucose tolerance is a first sign of diabetes mellitus and therefore rigorous control must be taken in carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms. Herbal remedies (lyophilized extracts of Myrtilli folium and Phaseoli fructus sine seminibus (L1), Myrtilli folium, Phaseoli fructus sine seminibus, and Salviae folium (L2) are traditionally used in mid-European folk medicine and in common adjuvant therapy for the prevention of complications in type 2 diabetes. Significant iron (355.7±13.8 mg/kg) and zinc (84.73±1.83 mg/kg) concentration was found in L1 and chromium (3.82±2.71 mg/kg) in L2. Ion concentrations in teas made from L1 and L2 are relatively low because the quantities of metal ions in teas do not cover the daily need, although the teas are good sources for some elements. According to the Recommended Daily Allowances, the tea of L1 is a good source for iron and manganese, whereas for chromium, the tea of L2 is better. For evaluating the element bioavailability, an in vitro dialysis system was applied to determine the element transfer from tea of the lyophilized sample to the plasma (buffer pH=7.4). Measurements showed that the elements transferred between 6.90% (iron from tea of L2) and 90.05% (chromium from tea of L2) through the membrane from teas to the plasma. Metal ions in teas of herbal remedies might contribute to the favorable therapeutic effect of preventing complications, because they might transfer through the membranes in relatively high percentages.

INHIBITION OF LIPID PEROXIDATION OF HERBAL EXTRACTS (OBTAINED FROM PLANT DRUG MIXTURES OF MYRTILLI FOLIUM, PHASEOLI FRUCTUS SINE SEMINIBUS AND SALVIAE FOLIUM ) USED IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Plant drug mixtures are widely used in the adjuvant therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus for the prevention of complications. The drug mixtures generally contribute to the efficiency of the therapy and may also reduce undesirable side effects. Two herbal extracts (lyophilized aqueous extracts of plant drug mixtures 1: Myrtilli folium, Phaseoli fructus sine seminibus and 2: Myrtilli folium, Phaseoli fructus sine seminibus, Salviae folium) were investigated in in vitro rat models. The content of bioactive constituents (polyphenol, flavonoid and vitamin C) in plant drug mixtures and lyophilized samples was evaluated. The antioxidant activity of lyophilized extracts was determined by measuring the ferric reducing ability of the plant, Fe2+ induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in rat brain homogenates and NADPH (beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced form) induced LPO in cerebral microsomes. The antioxidant activity of lyophilized extracts was compared to that of quercetin and rutin. Both teas of lyophilized extracts had significant reducing ability (2694 and 2771 micromol/l) and inhibited LPO (IC50 28.0 and 20.6 microl in NADPH induced LPO, 17.3 and 8.7 microl in Fe2+ induced LPO). The high concentration of polyphenol/flavonoid (12.38-13.00 and 1.45-5.22 g/100 g, respectively) and vitamin C (0.099-0.165 g/100 g) in the herbal extracts is related to their significant antioxidant properties. The tea mixtures have significant nutritional value, since the consumption of 2 or 3 cups of tea a day covers 50% of the daily requirement of vitamin C and it is also relevant polyphenol source. The high polyphenol/flavonoid content may restore the redox imbalance and contribute to the prevention of diabetic complications.

Phytochemical examination of oils obtained from the fruit of mille thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner) by supercritical fluid extraction

Supercritical fluid extraction (solvent: CO2 and propane) was used for mild recovery of fatty oil of mille thistle fruit (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner). Fatty acid compounds (palmic acid, oleic acid, linolic acid, linolenic acid, behenic acid), coloring content (expressed in pheophytin and carotene), tocopherol content and concentrations of some metals (Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd,Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, S, Ti, V, Zn), boron and sulfur were determined from oils and compared with oil obtained by Soxhlet extraction. There is significant difference between supercritical oil and traditional oil in the quantity of bioactive compounds and elements. The ratio of bioactive components and elements of oils changed during the extraction. Supercritical oils have higher concentration of C18:1 oleic acid, C18:3 linolenic acid, C20:0 and C22:0 behenic acid than the oil gained by Soxhlet extraction. The oil obtained by supercritical fluid extraction at 80 bar and 25 °C with propane has the highest coloring content. Our paper is the first report to be published on element concentrations of mille thistle oils. Accumulation of some heavy metals can be observed in almost each oil sample.

Mineral element content of some herbs with antiinflammatory effect used in gastrointestinal diseases

Bevezetes: A gasztrointestinalis rendszer megbetegedeseiben a nepgyogyaszat gyakran ajanl gyulladascsokkentő hatassal rendelkező gyogynovenyeket. Az orvosi gyakorlatban ma is kedvelt a stomaticumok adjuvans terapiaban tortenő alkalmazasa. Cel: Az emesztőrendszeri betegsegek kialakulasaban, ill. kezeleseben az asvanyi elemek is fontosak lehetnek, tovabba szoros osszefugges talalhato a femek jelenlete, ill. hianya es a gyulladasos mediatorok kozott, ezert a szerzők celul tűztek ki nehany novenyi drog asvanyi elemtartalmanak vizsgalatat. Modszer: A Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, Farfarae folium et flos, Taraxaci radix, Cichoriae radix, es a belőluk keszult tea asvanyielem-tartalmat induktiven csatolt plazma optikai emisszios spektrometriaval hataroztak meg. Az eredmenyeket taplalkozasi es orvosbiologiai megkozelitesből is ertekeltek. Eredmenyek: Megallapitottak, hogy a Farfarae folium et flos tea taplalkozasi szempontbol jelentős kalcium-, krom-, mangan- es molibdenforrasnak tekinthető, mig a Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, Taraxaci radix es Cichoriae radix teakban kedvező a kalcium:magnezium arany (1-1,5) es az immunvedekezesben fontos femelemeket is tartalmaznak (mangan, vas, rez es cink). Kovetkeztetes: A vizsgalt gyogynovenyek kedvező terapias hatasa osszefugghet azok asvanyielem-tartalmaval.INTRODUCTION In gastrointestinal diseases folk medicine usually recommends herbs and teas with antiinflammatory activities, especially mucilage and bitter agent containing plants. The use of stomatics as adjuvant therapy in medical practice is frequent. AIM The authors explored the mineral element content of some herbs, because mineral elements may have significant role in the development and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, and a close connection between the presence or absence of mineral elements and inflammatory mediators was noted. METHODS The mineral content in Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, Farfarae folium et flos, Taraxaci radix and Cichorii radix and teas prepared from these herbs was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results were evaluated from nutritional and biomedical points of view. RESULTS Farfarae folium et flos tea was found to be a rich source of calcium, chromium, manganese and molybdenum. Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, Taraxaci radix and Cichorii radix displayed favourable calcium to magnesium ratio (1-1.5) and they contained other elements (manganese, iron, copper, zinc) which may have significant role in the immune defence system. CONCLUSION The beneficial therapeutic effect of the studied herbs may be related to their mineral element content.

Antioxidant value and element content in some tinctures used in medication.

Tinctures are almost the oldest medicines and their use is substantial in the medication nowadays as well. The antioxidant values by ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) method and element content by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) were investigated in some tinctures official in the VII. and VIII. Pharmacopoeia Hungarica. The highest FRAP values were found for volatile oil containing Tinctura Aurantii amari epicarpii et mesocarpii, Tinctura Amara and Tinctura Valerianae (764.54 ± 19.90; 757.37 ± 14.46; 826.40 ± 5.89 µmol l⁻¹, respectively). The correlations between the FRAP values and dilution with different alcohol content in Tinctura Chinae, Tinctura Ipecacuanhae normata and Tinctura Strychni were also investigated. Remarkable differences were found between the element concentrations in the different tinctures. The element contents in tinctures are not so high in absolute values nevertheless the presence of essential selenium, zinc, manganese and copper is important since they have key role in the antioxidant system. The common feature of the tinctures seems to be the lithium content. The Ca to Mg concentration ratio was found to be shifted towards magnesium in some of the tinctures that can show a higher Mg absorption which could affect against the proinflammatoric processes in the cases of gastrointestinal diseases.