Anthranoid-containing medicines and food supplements on the Belgian market: a comparative study.

Medicines and food supplements containing anthranoid herbal drug preparations were verified on identity of the herbal substance, content of total hydroxyanthracene glycosides and microbiological quality. All examined medicines complied with the fixed requirements whereas all food supplements deviated from 1 or more of the criteria. The food supplements showed a large variability in quality and content.

[Glucosamine preparations on the Belgian market: a comparative study]. / Préparations à base de glucosamine sur le marché belge -- une étude comparative.

Fourteen food supplements and one medicine containing glucosamine and formulated as film-coated tablets and capsules, were evaluated with different tests, including uniformity of mass and dosage units, disintegration, identification and assay of glucosamine with a validated HPLC-ELSD method. The medicinal product fulfilled all the fixed requirements whereas three food supplements didn't comply with regard to disintegration (product 7) and content of glucosamine (product 11 and 13).

[Omega-3 fatty acid preparations--a comparative study]. / Préparations d'acides gras omega-3: une étude comparative.

Fifteen food supplements and 1 medicine, formulated as soft capsules and containing omega-3 fatty acids, were evaluated with different tests, including desegregation, determination of the anisidine and peroxide values and assay of the omega-3 acids according to the European Pharmacopoeia. All the products contained purified fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6; DHA), and available as triglycerides, ethyl esters or free fatty acids. The medicinal product complied with the fixed requirements whereas 7 of the 15 food supplements deviated from 1 or more of the criteria with regard to the peroxide value and the content of 1 or more of the fattty acids.

Ginkgo biloba medicines and food supplements on the Belgian market: a comparative study.

Medicines and food supplements based on the dry extract of the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. were evaluated by determination of the content of total flavonoids, rutin and terpene lactones by means of liquid chromatography. All examined medicines complied with the fixed requirements whereas all food supplements deviated from 1 or more of the criteria. It could also be demonstrated that some products contained extracts to which rutin was added.

Antibacterial and molluscicidal phenolic acids from Spondias mombin.

Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae), used in traditional medicine because of its antimicrobial properties, was found to contain a series of 6-alkenyl-salicylic acids. They were isolated from the ethanolic extract of leaves and stems of Spondias mombin by a combination of chromatographic methods. Their structure was determined by NMR and MS techniques as (17:3), (17:2) and (17:1) pelandjuaic acid [or 6-(8'Z,11'Z,14'Z-heptadecatrienyl)-salicylic acid, 6-(8'Z,11'Z-heptadecadienyl)-salicylic acid, and 6-(10'Z-heptadecenyl)-salicylic acid, respectively], 6-(12'Z-non-adecenyl)-salicylic acid, and 6-(15'Z-heneicosenyl)-salicylic acid, the two last compounds being new ones. These phenolic acids were shown to have a pronounced antibacterial effect against Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Mycobacterium fortuitum (minimal bactericidal concentration in a concentration range of 3-25 micrograms/ml), and a molluscicidal effect against the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, an intermediate host in the schistosome life cycle. Because of their high molluscicidal activity (LC90 down to 1-3 ppm), these long-chain salicylic acid derivatives may be important tools in the prevention of schistosomiasis.

Mass spectral characterization of C-glycosidic flavonoids isolated from a medicinal plant (Passiflora incarnata).

The four major C-glycosidic flavonoids isolated from Passiflora incarnata were identified as schaftoside, isoschaftoside, isovetexin-2''-O-glucopyranoside and isoorientin-2''-O-glucopyranoside on the basis of mass spectral and 13C NMR data. The daughter ion spectra of [M + H]+ ions of schaftoside and isoschaftoside showed differences for the [M + H - 104]+ ions, which could be rationalized by hydrogen bonding effects. In the negative-ion mode, pronounced differences were found for the [M - H - 90]- and [M - H - 120]- ions, formed by prevalent fragmentation in the C-6-linked sugar moiety. With respect to isovitexin-2''-O-beta-glucopyranoside and isoorientin-2''-O-beta-glucopyranoside, the daughter ion spectra of both the [M + H]+ and [M - H]- ions provided evidence for a 1----2 linkage in the diglucosidic moiety. Support for C-6 glucosylation was obtained by recording the daughter ion spectra of [M - H - 162]- ions, which were in good agreement with that obtained for [M - H]- ions of isovitexin.

Plant antiviral agents, VI. Isolation of antiviral phenolic glucosides from Populus cultivar Beaupre by droplet counter-current chromatography.

Bioassay-guided isolation of the 80% EtOH extract of the leaves of Populus cultivar Beaupré by means of dccc afforded four known phenolic glucosides. Salicin and salireposide were shown to be, at least partially, responsible for the antiviral activity of the extract against poliomyelitis and Semliki forest viruses.