Explore the vast range of titles available.

Research on medicinal plants and extracts derived from them differs from studies performed with single compounds. Extracts obtained from plants, algae, fungi, lichens or animals pose some unique challenges: they are multicomponent mixtures of active, partially active and inactive substances, and the activity is often not exerted on a single target. Their composition varies depending on the method of preparation and the plant materials used. This complexity and variability impact the reproducibility and interpretation of pharmacological, toxicological and clinical research. This project develops best practice guidelines to ensure reproducibility and accurate interpretations of studies using medicinal plant extracts. The focus is on herbal extracts used in pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical/intervention research. Specifically, the consensus-based statement focuses on defining requirements for: 1) Describing the plant material/herbal substances, herbal extracts and herbal medicinal products used in these studies, and 2) Conducting and reporting the phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts used in these studies in a reproducible and transparent way. We developed the guidelines through the following process: 1) The distinction between the three main types of extracts (extract types A, B, and C), initially conceptualised by the lead author (MH), led the development of the project as such; 2) A survey among researchers of medicinal plants to gather global perspectives, opportunities, and overarching challenges faced in characterising medicinal plant extracts under different laboratory infrastructures. The survey responses were central to developing the guidelines and were reviewed by the core group; 3) A core group of 9 experts met monthly to develop the guidelines through a Delphi process; and. 4) The final draft guidelines, endorsed by the core group, were also distributed for feedback and approval to an extended advisory group of 20 experts, including many journal editors. The primary outcome is the \"Consensus statement on the Phytochemical Characterisation of Medicinal Plant extracts\" (ConPhyMP) which defines the best practice for reporting the starting plant materials and the chemical methods recommended for defining the chemical compositions of the plant extracts used in such studies. The checklist is intended to be an orientation for authors in medicinal plant research as well as peer reviewers and editors assessing such research for publication.

This study reports on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity as well as the phenolic compounds that are present in Calothamnus spp. (Red Bell), Agonis flexuosa (Coastal Peppermint), Corymbia calophylla (Marri) and Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah) honeys from Western Australia. The honey’s total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using a modified Folin–Ciocalteu assay, while their total antioxidant activity was determined using FRAP and DPPH assays. Phenolic constituents were identified using a High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HTPLC)-derived phenolic database, and the identified phenolic compounds were quantified using HPTLC. Finally, constituents that contribute to the honeys’ antioxidant activity were identified using a DPPH-HPTLC bioautography assay. Based on the results, Calothamnus spp. honey (n = 8) was found to contain the highest (59.4 ± 7.91 mg GAE/100 g) TPC, followed by Eucalyptus marginata honey (50.58 ± 3.76 mg GAE/100 g), Agonis flexuosa honey (36.08 ± 4.2 mg GAE/100 g) and Corymbia calophylla honey (29.15 ± 5.46 mg GAE/100 g). In the FRAP assay, Calothamnus spp. honey also had the highest activity (9.24 ± 1.68 mmol Fe2+/kg), followed by Eucalyptus marginata honey (mmol Fe2+/kg), whereas Agonis flexuosa (5.45 ± 1.64 mmol Fe2+/kg) and Corymbia calophylla honeys (4.48 ± 0.82 mmol Fe2+/kg) had comparable FRAP activity. In the DPPH assay, when the mean values were compared, it was found that Calothamnus spp. honey again had the highest activity (3.88 ± 0.96 mmol TE/kg) while the mean DPPH antioxidant activity of Eucalyptus marginata, Agonis flexuosa, and Corymbia calophylla honeys were comparable. Kojic acid and epigallocatechin gallate were found in all honeys, whilst other constituents (e.g., m-coumaric acid, lumichrome, gallic acid, taxifolin, luteolin, epicatechin, hesperitin, eudesmic acid, syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, t-cinnamic acid, o-anisic acid) were only identified in some of the honeys. DPPH-HPTLC bioautography demonstrated that most of the identified compounds possess antioxidant activity, except for t-cinnamic acid, eudesmic acid, o-anisic acid, and lumichrome.

Planar chromatography has recently been combined with six different effect-directed assays for three golden root (Rhodiola rosea L.) samples. However, the profiles obtained showed an intense tailing, making zone differentiation impossible. The profiling was therefore improved to allow for the detection of individual bioactive compounds, and the range of samples was extended to 15 commercial golden root products. Further effect-directed assays were studied providing information on 15 different effect mechanisms, i.e., (1) tyrosinase, (2) acetylcholinesterase, (3) butyrylcholinesterase, (4) β-glucuronidase, and (5) α-amylase inhibition, as well as endocrine activity via the triplex planar yeast antagonist-verified (6–8) estrogen or (9–11) androgen screen, (12) genotoxicity via the planar SOS-Umu-C bioassay, antimicrobial activity against (13) Gram-negative Aliivibrio fischeri and (14) Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis bacteria, and (15) antioxidative activity (DPPH• radical scavengers). Most of the golden root profiles obtained were characteristic, but some samples differed substantially. The United States Pharmacopeia reference product showed medium activity in most of the assays. The six most active compound zones were further characterized using high-resolution mass spectrometry, and the mass signals obtained were tentatively assigned to molecular formulae. In addition to confirming the known activities, this study is the first to report that golden root constituents inhibit butyrylcholinesterase (rosin was tentatively assigned), β-glucuronidase (rosavin, rosarin, rosiridin, viridoside, and salidroside were tentatively assigned), and α-amylase (stearic acid and palmitic acid were tentatively assigned) and that they are genotoxic (hydroquinone was tentatively assigned) and are both agonistic and antagonistic endocrine active.

Hermannia geniculata is a herb that plays an important role in the treatment of an array of diseases including diabetes, ulcer, and colitis in the South African traditional medicine. The bioactive constituent and medicinal properties in phenols of (PoHG) roots were investigated using high pressure thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The α-amylase inhibitory potentials of PoHG was determined by reacting different concentration of the plant extract with 1% starch solution containing α-amylase. The inhibitory effect of the extract on α-glucosidase was evaluated by pre-incubating α-glucosidase with varying extract concentrations followed by the addition of ρ -nitrophenylglucopyranoside.. The reactive oxygen and free radical scavenging potentials of the extract were also analyzed. The result showed the presence of phenolic compounds in the extract with retention factor (Rf) values ranging from 0.14 to 095. The extract scavenged DPPH, ABTS , hydroxyl, and superoxide anion radicals. The extract was able to chelate metallic ions with a lower IC value which differs significantly (p≤0.05) from silymarin. Moreover, PoHG extract inhibited the key enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) involved in carbohydrate catabolism with IC values of 1.76 ±0.14 and 7.52 ±0.23 mg/mL respectively while IC value reported for acarbose were 7.62 ±0.12 and 4.38 ±0.25 mg/mL for glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively. The α-glucosidase exhibited non-competitive inhibition by PoHG extract while α-amylase showed uncompetitive inhibition. This study confirmed the presence of phenol in PoHG extract and also showed an appreciable antioxidant and antidiabetic activities . Therefore, PoHG extract may be of nutraceutical importance.

Prosopis cineraria is a medicinal plant known for its rich flavonoid content, which plays a vital role in its pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties . This study aimed to analyze the flavonoid profile of P. cineraria leaves using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) combined with chemometric techniques. The methanolic leaf extracts were prepared and subjected to HPTLC for the separation and identification of flavonoid compounds. Chemometric analysis was employed to improve compound differentiation and quantification. The results provided valuable insights into the diverse flavonoid composition of P. cineraria, highlighting its potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. This study contributes to the standardization and quality control of herbal formulations containing P. cineraria extracts.

Salacia oblonga Wall. and Salacia reticulata Wight. (Family Celastraceae) are commonly known as Saptarangi and used in Ayurvedic medicine as potent antidiabetic agent. It is a woody climber, mainly habitat in Sri Lanka and Southern India. A large number of chemical constituents such as salacinol, neosalacinol, kotalanol, neokotalanol, and mangiferin were isolated from stem and root of saptarangi which shows various therapeutics activities. Chemical constituent presents in both species of Salacia are working as α-glucosidase inhibitor for diabetes management. Among them mangiferin is a plant natural polyphenol of C-glycosylxanthone structure and found in many plant species. Many chromatography techniques like LC-MS, HPLC are available to quantify mangiferin but no proper data available for simple, rapid, precise, economic HPTLC method. So, HPTLC method was developed with mobile phase ethyl acetate: formic acid: water (4:0.5:0.5 v/v/v) which confirmed the presence of mangiferin at 0.38±0.01 Rf value observed under 254nm. Mangiferin was present in 1.02% in Salacia oblonga root extract, 0.94% in Salacia reticulata stem extract and 0.42% in polyherbal formulation. The validated HPTLC method will be useful in standardization of different Ayurvedic formulations using mangiferin as a marker.

Chymotrypsin inhibitors were initially considered mainly as anti-nutritional factors. However, the potential for their use as therapeutics has been recognized, particularly in the control of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory processes. The search for new, effective, and safe chymotrypsin inhibitors has become important not only for food and feed safety reasons, but also in the search for new compounds with potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry. Oxidative stress is also an integral etiological factor in the development of the aforementioned pathological conditions. Antioxidants supplied with food can have an impact on reducing the probability of developing these diseases. Herbaceous plants are a valuable reservoir of biologically active chemical compounds, which can show both inhibitory effects against a number of enzymatic reactions and have antioxidant activity. The compounds found within them are also often characterized by higher bioavailability and safety than their synthetic analogs. In the present study, phytochemical characterization of plant materials Galium aparine L., Galium verum L., Solidago virgaurea L. and Solidago canadensis L. was performed, in order to search for new, potential substances with chymotrypsin inhibitor and antioxidant properties. Antioxidant and inhibitory activities against chymotrypsin were determined using effect-directed HPTLC. The total content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids and antioxidant activity were also determined in UV-Vis spectrophotometric tests. Both plant species showed antioxidant and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity. Among the methanol and methanol:water extracts, the extracts from Solidago sp. showed stronger inhibitory and antioxidant activity. However, in the case of dichloromethane extracts, Galium aparine inhibited chymotrypsin activity in a stronger manner than Solidago sp. The results indicate the application potential of compounds obtained from these plants as chymotrypsin inhibitors and antioxidant agents.

Food authenticity and food safety are of high importance to organizations as well as to the food industry to ensure an accurate labeling of food products. Respective analytical methods should provide a fast screening and a reliable cost-efficient quantitation. HPTLC was pointed out as key analytical technique in this field. A new HPTLC method applying caffeine-impregnated silica gel plates was developed for eight most frequently found fat-soluble azo dyes unauthorizedly added to spices, spice mixtures, pastes, sauces, and palm oils. A simple post-chromatographic UV irradiation provided an effective sample cleanup, which took 4 min for up to 46 samples in parallel. The method was trimmed to enable 23 simultaneous separations within 20 min for quantitation or 46 separations within 5 min for screening. Linear (4–40 ng/band) or polynomial (10–200 ng/band) calibrations of the eight azo dyes revealed high correlation coefficients and low standard deviations. Limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 2–3 and 6–9 ng/zone, respectively. After an easy sample extraction, recoveries of 70–120% were obtained from chili, paprika, and curcuma powder as well as from chili sauce, curry paste, and palm oil spiked at low (mainly 25–50 mg/kg) and high levels (150–300 mg/kg). For unequivocal identification, the compound in a suspect zone was eluted via a column into the mass spectrometer. This resulted in the hyphenation HPTLC-vis-HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS.