ABSTRACT
Phthalate derivatives cause a number of risks to human health and the environment. Essential oil and volatile fractions of some vegetables and herbal products were extracted by hydrodistillation and percolation methods to analyze using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for evaluation of phthalate contaminations. The results revealed that four vegetables and all aromatic waters were contaminated by phthalate derivatives including di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (0.1-7.95%). Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a widely used synthetic antioxidant, was also found in the most of the aromatic waters in the range of 3.15-61.3%. In addition, three vegetable samples contained diazinon (0.36-4.61%), an organophosphorus insecticide. Plants and herbal preparations may be contaminated by the absorption of phthalates from contaminated water or soil or by the migration of phthalates from inexpensive recycled plastic. Regarding the widespread use and associated health risks of phthalates, effective quality and safety regulations for herbal products should be implemented with respect to their phthalate content.
Los derivados de ftalato causan una serie de riesgos para la salud humana y el medio ambiente. El aceite esencial y las fracciones volaÌtiles de algunos vegetales y productos a base de hierbas fueron extraiÌdos mediante hidrodestilacioÌn y meÌtodos de percolacioÌn y luego fueron analizados mediante cromatografiÌa de gases y espectrometriÌa de masas (GC-MS) con el propoÌsito de identificar contaminacioÌn con ftalatos. Los resultados revelaron que cuatro productos herbales y todas las aguas aromaÌticas analizadas estaban contaminadas con derivados de ftalato, incluyendo el ftalato de dibutulo (DBP), ftalato de diisobutilo y ftalato de bis(2-etilhexilo) (DEHP) (0.1-7.95%). El butilhidroxitolueno (BHT), un antioxidante sinteÌtico ampliamente utilizado, tambieÌn se encontroÌ en aguas aromaÌticas en el rango de 3.15- 61.3%. AdemaÌs, tres muestras vegetales conteniÌan diazinoÌn (0.36-4.61%), un insecticida organofosforado. Las plantas y las preparaciones herbales pueden ser contaminadas a partir de absorcioÌn de ftalatos del agua o el suelo contaminados o por la migracioÌn de ftalatos desde plaÌstico reciclado de bajo costo. Con respecto al uso generalizado y los riesgos asociados a la salud de los ftalatos, deben implementarse normas efectivas de calidad y seguridad para los productos a base de hierbas con respecto a su contenido de ftalato.
Subject(s)
Phthalic Acids/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Plant Preparations/chemistry , Gas Chromatography-Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
Most species of genus Artemisia L. (Compositae) are medicinal herbswith several uses in the folk medicine worldwide. In the present study, methanol extract of Artemisia santolina has been subjected for isolation of its metabolites along with evaluation of cytotoxic activity against Artemia salina larvae. The structures of the compounds determined by 1H-and 13C-NMR, HMQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY and Mass spectral analysis. Two sesquiterpenes, 1,5-dihydroxy- 4(15)eudesman-12,6-olid (artemin) (1), 2-hidroxy-2,6,10-trimethyl-7,10- oxide-3,11-dodecadien-5-one (2) and one flavonoid, 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6,3'-dimethoxyflavone (jaceosidin) (3) have been successfully characterized. Cytotoxicity of the sesquiterpene lactone (1), was assessed on Artemia salina larvae and resulted in IC50 value of 6.44 µg/mL, which was more potent compared to the positive standard berberine hydrochloride (IC50 = 26 µg/mL). In this study, the separation and identification of two sesquiterpenes and one flavone from the aerial parts of A. santolina is described. Among them the compound artemin (1) showed a toxicity effect against A. salina nauplii.
La mayoriÌa de las especies del geÌnero Artemisia L. (Compositae) son hierbas medicinales con varios usos en la medicina popular en todo el mundo. En el presente estudio, el extracto metanoÌlico de Artemisia santolina ha sido sometido al aislamiento de sus metabolitos junto con la evaluacioÌn de la actividad citotoÌxica contra las larvas de Artemia salina. Las estructuras de los compuestos se determinaron mediante RMN 1H y 13C, HMQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COZY y anaÌlisis espectral de masas. Dos sesquiterpenos, 1,5-dihidroxi-4 (15) eudesman- 12,6-olid (artemin) (1), 2-hidroxi-2,6,10-trimetil-7,10-oÌxido-3,11-dodecadien-5-ona (2) y un flavonoide, 5,7,4'-trihidroxi-6,3'- dimetoxiflavona (jaceosidina) (3). Se evaluoÌ la citotoxicidad de la lactona sesquiterpeÌnica (1) en larvas de Artemia salina y resultoÌ en un valor de CI50 de 6,44 µg/ml, que era maÌs potente en comparacioÌn con el clorhidrato de berberina estaÌndar positivo (CI50 = 26 µg/ml). En este estudio se describe la separacioÌn e identificacioÌn de dos sesquiterpenos y una flavona de las partes aeÌreas de A. santolina. Entre ellos, el compuesto artemin (1) mostroÌ un efecto de toxicidad contra los nauplios de A. salina.
Subject(s)
Artemia/drug effects , Artemisia/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Flavonoids/analysis , Larva , Sesquiterpenes/analysisABSTRACT
Aims: Phytosterols are a subgroup of the steroids, as an important class of bioorganic molecules, widespread in plants, animals, marines as well as fungi and have similarity to cholesterol in structure. These compounds have a long history of consumption as food or pharmaceutical products, and generally recognized as safe without undesirable side effects. Place and Duration of Study: Medicinal plants Research Center and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, between March 2013 and May 2013. Results: Amongphytosterols, β-sitosterol is usually used for heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, modulating the immune system, prevention of cancer, as well as for rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Furthermore, diverse biological activities whereby natural compounds or the extracts were considered including trypanocidal and mosquito larvicidal, even neutralization of viper and cobra venom characteristics was recorded. Conclusion: Some of the above indications are evidence based, but others are still in doubt and need more investigations to confirm its efficacy and safety. Regarding to the importance of these natural sterols and β-sitosterol as the most abundant of them, the main pharmacological and biological activities together with their clinical trials is reviewed here.