Ultrasound-Assisted Conversion of Toxic β-Asarone into Nontoxic Bioactive Phenylpropanoid: Isoacoramone, A Metabolite ofPiper MarginatumandAcorus Tararinowii

The role of centrifugal partition chromatography in the removal of β-asarone from Acorus calamus essential oil

Β-asarone is a phenylpropane derivative present in the rhizomes of Acorus calamus, that was proved to exhibit toxic effects in humans. Because of its presence the whole plant that is commonly used in traditional medicine for its sedative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and other properties has limited application nowadays. In the study, qualitative and quantitative analysis of a collection of nine essential oil (EO) samples of European and Asian origin was performed. The final content of β-asarone in the tested samples ranged between 0.265 and 1.885 mg/mL. Having in mind a possible application of the EO as a biopesticide, this research aimed at the development of CPC-based purification protocol that could help remove β-asarone from EO. It was proved that the biphasic solvent system composed of n-hexane/EtOAc/MeOH/water, 9:1:9:1 (v/v/v/v) was capable of the removal of the toxic constituent in the CPC chromatograph operated in the ascending elution mode with 2200 rpm and a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The chromatographic analysis that lasted only 144 min effectively separated β-asarone (purity of 95.5%) and α-asarone (purity of 93.7%) directly from the crude Acorus calamus rhizome EO.

Synthesis of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) 2,4,5-Trimethoxybenzaldehyde from Indonesian Calamus oil and Its In Silico Pharmacokinetic Study

Seeking Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers are in the race due to the escalating cases of the life-threatening COVID-19 pandemic. Those current Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) used as an inflammation adjunct treatment on the COVID-19 patients including Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and Celecoxib, are still under dispute offering emergency development of a new potent NSAID. Meanwhile, a well-known COX-2 selective anti-inflammation 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehye has not been developed further in terms of its synthetic methodology and as well its pharmacokinetic studies. Here, an article on the synthesis of 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde from Indonesia Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus) and as well its pharmacokinetic properties studied through in silico calculation was published. A typical Asian tetraploid calamus oil was yielded in 90% pure after doing reduced pressure distillation of the crude Indonesian Sweet flag oil. Submission of that oil into a very cheap DIY ozone machine produced 95% of pure 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde just in 10 minutes ozonised. The in silico Adsorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) prediction using free access ADMETlab 2.0 web server strongly recommended the 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde to be an orally administered NSAID candidate.

β-asarone improves learning and memory and reduces Acetyl Cholinesterase and Beta-amyloid 42 levels in APP/PS1 transgenic mice by regulating Beclin-1-dependent autophagy

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly, and studies have suggested that β-asarone has pharmacological effects on beta-amyloid (Aβ) injected in the rat hippocampus. However, the effect of β-asarone on autophagy in the APP/PS1 transgenic mouse is unreported. APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into six groups (n=10/group): an untreated group, an Aricept-treated group, a 3-MA-treated group, a rapamycin-treated group, an LY294002-treated group, a β-asarone-treated group. The control group consisted of wild-type C57BL/6 mice. All treatments were administered to the mice for 30 days. Spatial learning and memory were assessed by water maze, passive avoidance, and step-down tests. AChE and Aβ₄₂ levels in the hippocampus were determined by ELISA. p-Akt, p-mTOR, and LC3B expression were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of p-Akt, p-mTOR, Beclin-1, and p62 proteins was assessed by western blot. Changes in autophagy were viewed using a transmission electron microscope. APP and Beclin-1 mRNA levels were measured by Real-Time PCR. The learning and memory of APP/PS1 transgenic mice were improved significantly after β-asarone treatment compared with the untreated group. In addition, β-asarone treatment reduced AChE and Aβ₄₂ levels, increased p-mTOR and p62 expression, decreased p-Akt, Beclin-1, and LC3B expression, decreased the number of autophagosomes and reduced APP mRNA and Beclin-1 mRNA levels compared with the untreated group. That is, β-asarone treatment can improve the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 transgenic mouse by inhibiting Beclin-1-dependent autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.