Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis for the Authentication of Natural Antioxidant Curcuminoids from (Turmeric).

Curcuminoid complex, a mixture of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and didemethoxycurcumin, is one of the most popular antioxidants of natural origin, and it has a multitude of other health benefits. It is threatened by the proliferation of counterfeit products on the market containing synthetic curcuminoids whose addition is difficult to identify as they present the three curcuminoid forms in the correct ratios. Consequently, the necessity to detect this fraudulent practice is escalating.

The phytoequivalence of herbal extracts: A critical evaluation.

The concept of phytoequivalence was developed in Germany in mid-1990 to indicate that a herbal extract is equivalent to another one, more specifically, to a clinically validated one. The pharmacological/physiological activity of an extract is related to its composition, but, due to the presence of many constituents, reliable technique are necessary to compare extracts. While the concept of equivalence among pure chemicals or isolated substances is feasible using the modern chromatographic and spectroscopic technology, specific guideline for herbal extracts or botanicals are still missing.

The use of stable isotope ratio analysis to characterise saw palmetto (Serenoa Repens) extract.

Saw palmetto extract (SPE) has many pharmacological effects. Thus, its demand and value has increased steadily, along with the presence of counterfeit SPEs on the market. In this work bulk δC, δH, δO and fatty acid δC, δH analysis was performed in 20 authentic and 9 commercial SPEs, 12 meat fats and 4 pure fatty acids.

Combined use of isotopic fingerprint and metabolomics analysis for the authentication of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extracts.

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, SP) is the most expensive oil source of the pharmaceutical and healthfood market, and its high cost and recurrent shortages have spurred the development of designer blends of fatty acids to mimic its phytochemical profile and fraudulently comply with the current authentication assays. To detect this adulteration, the combined use of isotopic fingerprint and omic analysis has been investigated, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to handle the complex databases generated by these techniques and to identify the possible source of the adulterants. Surprisingly, the presence of fatty acids of animal origin turned out to be widespread in commercial samples of saw palmetto oil.

Metabolomics study of Saw palmetto extracts based on 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Preparations containing Saw palmetto extracts are used in traditional medicine to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. According to the European and the American Pharmacopoeias, the extract is obtained from comminuted Saw palmetto berries by a suitable extracting procedure using ethanol or supercritical carbon dioxide or a mixture of n-hexane and methylpentanes. In the present study an approach to metabolomics profiling using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been used as a finger-printing tool to assess the overall composition of the extracts.

Metabolomic evaluation of ginsenosides distribution in Panax genus (Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius) using multivariate statistical analysis.

Ginseng is any one of the eleven species belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae and is found in North America and in eastern Asia. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides. Principally Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius are the adaptogenic herbs and are commonly distributed as health food markets.

New liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection for analysis of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in Vaccinium myrtillus fruit dry extracts and commercial preparations.

The Vaccinium myrtillus fruits (bilberry) are a well-known anthocyanins source, and their extracts are widely used in dietary botanicals and pharmaceutical products for the treatment of vascular and vision disorders. Different analytical methods used for standardization of the bilberry extracts and their preparations are available from pharmacopeias and from the literature. However, the methods reported in the literature do not allow the detection of free anthocyanidins, which are markers of poor product quality.

Single-laboratory validation for the determination of terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba dietary supplement crude materials and finished products by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection.

A single-laboratory validation was completed for a method to determine total terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba products. The method determines terpene lactones on the basis of the main terpene lactones (Bilobalide, Ginkgolide A, Ginkgolide B, Ginkgolide C, and Ginkgolide J) by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection after extraction. Nine matrixes were chosen for study, including crude leaf material, standardized dry powder extract, single- and multiple-entity finished products, and alcohol and glycerin tinctures.

Topical anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and compounds from Hypericum perforatum L.

Three preparations of Hypericum perforatum L. (a hydroalcoholic extract, a lipophilic extract and an ethylacetic fraction) and the pure compounds hypericin, adhyperforin, amentoflavone, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, hyperforin dicyclohexylammonium (DHCA) salt and dicyclohexylamine were evaluated for their topical anti-inflammatory activity. H.

Inverse genetic predisposition to colon versus lung carcinogenesis in mouse lines selected based on acute inflammatory responsiveness.

Mouse lines produced by bidirectional selection on the basis of maximum (AIRmax) or minimum (AIRmin) acute inflammatory reactions were examined for the development of chemically induced acute colitis and colon tumors and the development of lung tumors. AIRmax mice were more susceptible than AIRmin to acute colitis induced by ingestion of dextran sodium sulfate showing a 3-fold higher disease activity index and presenting an intense inflammatory infiltrate in the base of colon crypts as well as elevated expression of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, IFNgamma and IL-6 mRNA in colon tissue. AIRmax were also more susceptible than AIRmin to colon cancer induced by 2 or 7 weekly doses of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), showing significantly higher numbers of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) at 150 days after DMH treatment (P = 0.

Genetic selection for high acute inflammatory response confers resistance to lung carcinogenesis in the mouse.

Mice selected for a high acute inflammatory response (AIRmax) are resistant to chemically induced lung tumorigenesis, whereas the low responders (AIRmin) are susceptible. In urethane-treated mice, anti-inflammatory drugs increased the tumor incidence in AIRmax but not AIRmin mice, and an inverse correlation (P<.001) between the degree of acute inflammatory response (AIR) and lung tumorigenesis was found in an F2 (AIRmax x AIRmin) intercross population.