RP-HPLC simultaneous estimation of betulinic acid and ursolic acid in Carissa spinarum

Development and validation of simultaneous quantification method for gemcitabine and betulinic acid: augmenting industrial application

Combinatorial treatment utilizing a nucleoside analogue gemcitabine (GEM), with a characteristic pentacyclic triterpenoid betulinic acid (BET), has exhibited empowering adequacy in the therapy of cancer. It lessens the advancement of collagen and upgrades the saturation of tumour medicines. With the advancement in nanotechnology, the co-loaded formulation urges for a validated method of estimation. The purposed work entails a robust, simple, and economical analytical method for the simultaneous estimation of GEM and BET through RP-HPLC. Orthophosphoric acid (0.1%)-acetonitrile was considered as the mobile phase for the detection of GEM and BET at 248 nm and 210 nm with retention times of 5 min and 13 min, respectively. The method was further validated as per the regulatory guidelines with all the parameters found within the limit. The developed method with adequate resolution and quantification was found to be linear, accurate, precise, robust, and stable with an intra- and inter-day variability of less than 2%. The method was found specific for GEM and BET with no matrix interference of drug-spiked FBS samples. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed method, a nano-formulation containing GEM and BET was prepared and assessed for various parameters including encapsulation efficiency, loading efficiency, drug release, and drug stability. The method developed can be a possible tool for the simultaneous quantification of GEM-BET in analytical and biological samples.

Traditional Importance, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicological Attributes of the Promising Medicinal Herb Carissa spinarum L

Carissa spinarum L. (Apocynaceae), commonly known as Garna or Jungli Karonda, has a rich history of use in indigenous traditional medicinal systems owing to its tremendous medicinal and nutritional benefits. The present review aims to discuss the traditional uses, ethnopharmacology, bioactive composition, toxicity analysis, and biotechnological applications of Carissa spinarum L. (CS) to identify the gap between current applications and research conducted on this plant. We collected the literature published before December 2022 on the phytochemical composition, pharmacological properties, and biotechnological applications of CS. Literature in English from scientific databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Wiley, along with books on CS, was analyzed and summarized to prepare this review. The plant taxonomy was verified using the “World Flora Online” database (http://www.worldfloraonline.org/). The in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on CS revealed its anthelmintic, anticonvulsant, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, vasorelaxant, antihypertensive, antitumor, wound-healing, anti-venom, and antipyretic effects. Toxicological studies on CS also indicated the absence of any adverse effects even at high doses after oral administration. Although CS showed remarkable therapeutic activities against several diseases—such as diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and hepatitis B virus—there are several drawbacks in previous reports, including the lack of information on the drug dose, standards, controls, and mechanism of action of the extract or the phytocompounds responsible for its activity. Extensive research with proper in vivo or in vitro model systems is required to validate its reported activities.

Screening and semi-quantitative determination of pentacyclic triterpenoids in plants by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in precursor ion scan mode

INTRODUCTION

Pentacyclic triterpenoids (PCTs) are secondary plant metabolites. They are of exceptional interest as biologically active substances and raw materials for a wide range of medications. Thus, the development of a methodology for rapid screening of PCTs in plant biomass is an important task.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this work was to develop an approach for simultaneous screening and semi-quantitative determination of PCTs in plant tissues by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a precursor ion scan (PrecIS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) with methanol was used for the isolation of PCTs from plant biomass. Screening and semi-quantitative determination of PCTs in the obtained extracts were carried out by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in a PrecIS mode.

RESULTS

The product ion at m/z 95 with collision energy of 40 V was used as a diagnostic ion to identify PCTs by the PrecIS mode. In plant materials, 26 PCTs and their derivatives, such as PCTs esters and glycosides, were detected and identified. Calculation of the relative response factor for nine available PCTs showed that using a betulin calibration curve allows us to estimate the semi-quantitative content of PCTs and their derivatives in plant PLE extracts.

CONCLUSION

The developed approach can be applied for simultaneous untargeted screening and semi-quantitative determination of PCTs and their derivatives in various plants at sub-parts per million levels.

RP-HPLC analysis of methanol extract of Viscum articulatum

BACKGROUND

Viscum articulatum Burm. (Family: Loranthaceae) is commonly known as mistletoe. In ayurveda, the plant parts are used in "Kapha", "Vata", diseases of the blood, ulcer, and epilepsy. The plant parts are also used in urinary tract infection and wound infection. The plant contains five triterpenoids such as α-amyrin, lupeol, betulin, betulinic acid and oleanolic acid, exhibiting several pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, anti-HIV, antitumor, antiviral activity.

OBJECTIVE

To ensure the content of uniformity of oleanolic acid, a RP-HPLC method has been developed for estimation of oleanolic acid in V. articulatum aerial part.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The RP-HPLC method was carried out in reverse phase C₁₈ column, using methanol and water as mobile phase in the ratio of 95:5 (v/v), at the flow rate of 1 mL/min. The pH of aqueous phase was adjusted 3.2 with 1% (v/v) glacial acetic acid. The λ_max was set at 210 nm.

RESULTS

The retention time of oleanolic acid was found at 21.5 ± 0.05 min. The linearity of the response was found to be 10-800 μg/mL. The coefficient of determinants of oleanolic acid was found to be (r²) 0.995 and equation Y = 19462X + 16,172. The LOD and LOQ were found to be for oleanolic acid (1.96% w/w) 0.197 ± 0.63 and 0.623 ± 0.87 μg/mL, respectively. The developed method was accurate, specific, precise and reproducible.

CONCLUSION

This RP-HPLC may be useful for quantitative estimation of the chemical constituents present in the plant extract as well as the quality assessment of the herbal product.

Simultaneous Determination of Rutin, Luteolin, Quercetin, and Betulinic Acid in the Extract of Disporopsis pernyi (Hua) Diels by UPLC

Disporopsis pernyi (Hua) Diels, which belongs to genus Disporopsis, has been widely used for the treatment of abnormal sweating, chronic cough, and so forth. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis was developed for the determination of rutin, luteolin, quercetin, and betulinic acid in Disporopsis pernyi (Hua) Diels roots. UPLC analysis was conducted by using a Shim-pack XR-ODS column with gradient elution with the mobile phase of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid and with a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min, detected at 210, 254, and 280 nm. The method was precise, with relative standard deviation < 2.0%. The recoveries for the four components in Disporopsis pernyi (Hua) Diels were between 98.5 and 100.9%. The average contents of rutin, luteolin, quercetin, and betulinic acid in roots were 5.63, 2.51, 3.87, and 2.41 μg/g, respectively. The method was accurate and reproducible and it can provide a quantitative basis for quality control of Disporopsis pernyi (Hua) Diels.

Isolation and identification of bioactive compounds from chloroform fraction of methanolic extract of Carissa opaca roots

Carissa opaca is a shrub known for its variety of medicinal applications. This study reports isolation and identification of four chemical compounds from its roots for the first time. The methanolic extract of the roots was fractionated into various solvents with increasing polarity. Chloroform fraction was subjected to column and thin layer chromatography to ultimately yield 2H-cyclopropanaphthalene-2-one, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethylbenzofuran and 5(1H)-azulenone, 2,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,8-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-,(8S-cis). They were identified by GC-MS analysis. The compounds exhibited considerable antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger with zones of inhibition ranging from 10 to 13 mm as compared to the standard drug amoxicillin with zones of inhibition 13-17 mm under the similar conditions. In conclusion, the roots of C. opaca can provide new leads for future antimicrobial drugs.