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Modern Technologies and Solvents for Plant Extracts Preparation and Their Biological and Pharmacological Application

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Analytical Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 11160

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Formulations, Prof. Popov Street, 14a, 197376 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Interests: natural products; medicinal plants; chemistry; pharmacology; pharmaceutical formulations with natural compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Extraction is a primary stage in the processing of plant materials that significantly affects the biological and pharmacological activity of extracts. The current ecological situation requires the development of modern techniques and solvents, which provide exhaustive isolation of active principles from medicinal plants and future environmentally friendly utilization of wastes. The papers devoted to the new extraction methods and evaluation of biological and pharmacological activities of plant extracts are welcomed. The specific relationship between extraction method and activity is worthy of discussion.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Shikov
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • medicinal plants
  • plant extracts
  • green solvents
  • natural deep eutectic solvents
  • extraction
  • ultrasound-assisted extraction
  • microwave-assisted extraction
  • pressurized liquid extraction
  • biological activity
  • pharmacological activity
  • synergy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1063 KiB  
Article
Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Triterpene Saponins from Aralia elata var. mandshurica (Rupr. & Maxim.) J. Wen
by Alyona A. Petrochenko, Anastasia Orlova, Nadezhda Frolova, Evgeny B. Serebryakov, Alena Soboleva, Elena V. Flisyuk, Andrej Frolov and Alexander N. Shikov
Molecules 2023, 28(8), 3614; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28083614 - 21 Apr 2023
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 2846
Abstract
The roots of the medicinal plant Aralia elata are rich in biologically active natural products, with triterpene saponins constituting one of their major groups. These metabolites can be efficiently extracted by methanol and ethanol. Due to their low toxicity, natural deep eutectic solvents [...] Read more.
The roots of the medicinal plant Aralia elata are rich in biologically active natural products, with triterpene saponins constituting one of their major groups. These metabolites can be efficiently extracted by methanol and ethanol. Due to their low toxicity, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were recently proposed as promising alternative extractants for the isolation of natural products from medicinal plants. However, although NADES-based extraction protocols are becoming common in routine phytochemical work, their application in the isolation of triterpene saponins has not yet been addressed. Therefore, here, we address the potential of NADES in the extraction of triterpene saponins from the roots of A. elata. For this purpose, the previously reported recoveries of Araliacea triterpene saponins in extraction experiments with seven different acid-based NADES were addressed by a targeted LC-MS-based quantitative approach for, to the best of our knowledge, the first time. Thereby, 20 triterpene saponins were annotated by their exact mass and characteristic fragmentation patterns in the total root material, root bark and root core of A. elata by RP-UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF-MS, with 9 of them being identified in the roots of this plant for the first time. Triterpene saponins were successfully extracted from all tested NADES, with the highest efficiency (both in terms of the numbers and recoveries of individual analytes) achieved using a 1:1 mixture of choline chloride and malic acid, as well as a 1:3 mixture of choline chloride and lactic acid. Thereby, for 13 metabolites, NADES were more efficient extractants in comparison with water and ethanol. Our results indicate that new, efficient NADES-based extraction protocols, giving access to high recoveries of triterpene saponins, might be efficiently employed in laboratory practice. Thus, our data open the prospect of replacing alcohols with NADES in the extraction of A. elata roots. Full article
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18 pages, 3925 KiB  
Article
Chemical Characterization and Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antiacetylcholinesterase and Antiproliferation Properties of Salvia fruticosa Miller Extracts
by Michella Dawra, Jalloul Bouajila, Marc El Beyrouthy, Alain Abi Rizk, Patricia Taillandier, Nancy Nehme and Youssef El Rayess
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2429; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062429 - 7 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2656
Abstract
The Salvia fruticosa (Mill.) is the most medicinal plant used in Lebanon. The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical composition and the biological activities (in vitro) of its extracts. The plant was extracted by cold maceration with four solvents presenting [...] Read more.
The Salvia fruticosa (Mill.) is the most medicinal plant used in Lebanon. The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical composition and the biological activities (in vitro) of its extracts. The plant was extracted by cold maceration with four solvents presenting an increasing polarity: cyclohexane (CHX), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH). The extracts were screened for their chemical composition by a HPLC-DAD detector for phenolic compounds identification and quantification and by GC-MS for volatile compounds detection. The antioxidant capacity (DPPH inhibition) was tested. Biological activities, mainly anti-Alzheimer activity (acetylcholinesterase inhibition), the antiproliferation of two human colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and Caco-2 cells) and antibacterial activity, were evaluated. Ten aromatic compounds were quantified by HPLC-DAD analysis. A total of 123 compounds were detected by GC-MS analysis. The MeOH extract showed a very interesting antioxidant activity with an inhibition percentage (IP) of 76.1% and an IC50 of 19.4 μg/mL. The EtOAc extract exhibited the strongest inhibition against the acetylcholinesterase activity (IP = 60.6%) at 50 μg/mL. It also strongly inhibited the proliferation of the HCT-116 cells (IP = 87.5%), whereas the DCM extract gave the best result with the Caco-2 cells (IP = 72.3%). The best antibacterial activity was obtained with the MeOH extract against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 1.2 μg/mL) and with the EtOAc extract against Escherichia coli (MIC = 2.4 μg/mL). This study highlights the chemical composition and therapeutic potential of S. fruticosa. It is important to mention that the following chemical compounds were identified for the first time in plant extracts: 2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadeca-2,6,8,10,14-pentaene; 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroxy-1,8,8,9-tetramethyl-8,9-dihydrophenaleno [1,2-b]furan-3-one; podocarpa-1,8,11,13-tetraen-3-one,14-isopropyl-1,13-dimethoxy; podocarpa-8,11,13-trien-3-one,12-hydroxy-13-isopropyl-,acetate; 3′,8,8′-trimethoxy-3-piperidin-1-yl-2,2′-binaphthyl-1,1′,4,4′-tetrone; and 2,3-dehydroferruginol, thus underlining the originality of this study. Full article
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15 pages, 1005 KiB  
Article
Farang (Psidium guajava L.) Dried Leaf Extracts: Phytochemical Profiles, Antioxidant, Anti-Diabetic, and Anti-Hemolytic Properties for Ruminant Health and Production
by Rayudika Aprilia Patindra Purba and Pramote Paengkoum
Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8987; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248987 - 16 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3084
Abstract
Due to its advantageous antioxidant phytochemical components, Psidium guajava L. has become an indispensable plant in pharmaceutical formulations, playing a crucial role in safeguarding human health. On ruminant animals, however, there has been limited investigation. The purpose of this investigation was to assess [...] Read more.
Due to its advantageous antioxidant phytochemical components, Psidium guajava L. has become an indispensable plant in pharmaceutical formulations, playing a crucial role in safeguarding human health. On ruminant animals, however, there has been limited investigation. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the phytochemical profiles and biological potential of Farang (P. guajava L.) leaf extracts for ruminant health. Methanolic and hexanoic extracts from various agricultural areas were prepared over a five-month period. By means of HPLC-DAD, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), essential oil (eugenol), tannin (gallic acid), cinnamic acids (caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, and ferulic acid), and flavonoids (catechin, rutin, myricetin, quercetin, apigenin, and kaempferol) were detected and quantified. Solvent type, but not cultivation site or sampling time, explained the observed variation in phytochemical profile. Phytochemicals were found in lower concentrations in hexanoic extracts than in methanolic extracts. Catechin and sinapic acid were discovered to be the two most abundant phytochemicals in the methanolic extract of Farang leaf, followed by other phenolic compounds, essential oils, and water-soluble vitamins. Compared with the methanolic extract, the hexanoic extract of Farang leaves was less effective at scavenging oxidation in terms of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, and superoxide, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Hexanoic extract was found to be less protective against oxidative damage in ruminant erythrocytes than methanolic extract in terms of inhibiting hemoglobin oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and hemolysis. According to the findings of this study, the leaves of Farang (P. guajava L.) are a potential source of phytochemical compounds with wellness properties for ruminant production. Full article
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12 pages, 2007 KiB  
Article
The Ability of Acid-Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents to Co-Extract Elements from the Roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Associated Health Risks
by Alexander N. Shikov, Veronika A. Shikova, Anastasiia O. Whaley, Marina A. Burakova, Elena V. Flisyuk, Andrei K. Whaley, Inna I. Terninko, Yulia E. Generalova, Irina V. Gravel and Olga N. Pozharitskaya
Molecules 2022, 27(22), 7690; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27227690 - 9 Nov 2022
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 1933
Abstract
The roots of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) have been widely used in traditional and officinal medicines for the treatment of different diseases. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have become popular for the extraction of active principles from medicinal plants. However, the ability [...] Read more.
The roots of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) have been widely used in traditional and officinal medicines for the treatment of different diseases. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have become popular for the extraction of active principles from medicinal plants. However, the ability of NADES to co-extract trace elements during the isolation of target active compounds is rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the content of trace elements in acid-based NADES extracts from the roots of G. glabra and the health risks associated with them. In this study, we have tested for the first time the ability of several acid-based NADES to co-extract glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and trace elements from the roots of G. glabra. GA has been identified as the dominant phytochemical in G. glabra NADES extracts (0.145–0.495 mg/g). Due to the close pKa of lactic acid and GA, the yield of GA in lactic acid-based NADES was higher in comparison with other tested NADES. The yield of GA in NADES3-NADES5 was statistically significant and surpassed the yield of GA in water. The recovery of all elements (except Li) by all tested NADES was low (less than 6%). According to an ANOVA test, the hydrogen bond donor type plays a decisive role in the extraction of elements. A strong positive correlation between the recovery of GA and MPI was noted. The metal pollution index, hazard quotient, hazard index, and chronic daily intake were calculated and suggest that all tested NADES extracts of G. glabra roots were nontoxic and possess no health risk for both ingestion and topical application. Full article
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