The Effect of Different Solvent Types and Extraction Methods on Oil Yields and Fatty Acid Composition of Safflower Seed.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different extraction solvents (petroleum benzene, hexane, diethyl ether and acetone) and extraction methods (hot and cold) on oil yield of safflower seeds and its fatty acid compositions. Oil contents of safflower seeds extracted by hot extraction system were changed between 37.40% (acetone) and 39.53% (petroleum benzene), while that of cold extraction was varied between 39.96% (petroleum benzene) and 39.40% (diethyl ether). Regarding the extraction solvents, the highest oil yield (39.53%) was obtained with petroleum benzene, while the minimum value (37.40%) was found with acetone under hot extraction condition. The main fatty acids observed in all extracted oil samples were linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids. Oleic acid contents of safflower oils extracted by hot extraction system was ranged between 41.20% (acetone) and 42.54% (hexane), its content in oils obtained by cold extraction method was varied between 40.58% (acetone) and 42.10% (hexane and diethyl ether). Linoleic content of safflower oil extracted by hot extraction system was found between 48.23% (acetone) and 49.62% (hexane), while that oil extracted by cold method range from 48.07 (hexane) to 49.09% (acetone). The fatty acid composition of safflower seeds oil showed significant (p < 0.05) differences depending on solvent type and extraction method. The results of this study provide relevant information that can be used to improve organic solvent extraction processes of vegetable oil.

Effects of a water extract of Lepidium meyenii root in different models of persistent pain in rats.

Lepidium meyenii (Walp.), commonly called maca, is an Andean crop belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Maca hypocotils are habitually consumed as customary food as well as traditional remedies for pathological conditions such as infertility. Moreover, the characterization of maca extracts revealed the presence of compounds that are able to modulate the nervous system. Aimed to evaluate the efficacy of L. meyenii in persistent pain, the present study analyzed the effects of a commercial root extract from maca in different animal models reproducing the most common causes of chronic painful pathologies. A qualitative characterization of this commercial extract by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry analyses allowed us to confirm the presence of some macamides known as bioactive constituents of this root and the absence of the main aromatic glucosinolates. The acute oral administration of maca extract is able to reduce mechanical hypersensitivity and postural unbalance induced by the intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate and the chronic-constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. Furthermore, L. meyenii extract reverts pain threshold alterations evoked by oxaliplatin and paclitaxel. A good safety profile in mice and rats was shown. In conclusion, the present maca extract could be considered as a therapeutic opportunity to relieve articular and neuropathic pain.

[Screening and identifying of hepatoprotective compounds in paeoniae radix rubra].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new rapid method to screen potential hepatoprotective compounds from traditional Chinese medicine, and identify the hepatoprotective compounds in Paeoniae Radix Rubra. METHOD: Fluorescein diacetate labelled and MTT assay were applied for screening the hepatoprotective fractions on HepG2 cells exposed to galactosamine. The active fractions were analyzed by chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Finally, the hepatoprotective effects of the identified compounds were validated by hepatoprotective assay. RESULT: Three hepatoprotective fractions were founded, in which three compounds were identified as paeoniflorin, ethyl palmitate and ethyl linoleate. Validation results indicated that all the three compounds can attenuate the galactosamine induced injury on HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION: Paeoniflorin, ethyl palmitate and ethyl linoleate from paeoniae radix rubra showed potential hepatoprotective activity.

Fast ultrasound-assisted extraction of polar (phenols) and nonpolar (lipids) fractions in Heterotheca inuloides Cass.

INTRODUCTION: Heterotheca inuloides Cass., also known as "arnica", is used in traditional medicine in Mexico. OBJECTIVE: Development of fast methods for the extraction of lipidic and phenolic fractions from arnica plants and their subsequent characterization. METHODOLOGY: Ultrasound was applied to accelerate extraction of the target compounds from this plant and reduce the use of organic solvents as compared with conventional methods. Gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with diode-array detection were used for the characterization of the lipidic and phenolic fractions, respectively. RESULTS: Under optimal extraction conditions, 9 and 55 min were necessary to complete extraction of the lipidic and phenolic fractions, respectively. The fatty acids present at the highest concentrations in H. inuloides were eicosatetraenoic n3 (24.6 µg/g), cis-9-hexadecenoic n7 (23.1 µg/g), exacosanoic (22.7 µg/g) and cis-9-octadecenoic acid (21.3 µg/g), while the rest were in the range 7.6-1.3 µg/g. The most concentrated phenols were guaiacol (41.5 µg/g), catechin (38.7 µg/g), ellagic acid (35.9 µg/g), carbolic acid (24.2 µg/g) and p-coumaric acid (19.5 µg/g), while the rest were in the range 5.1-0.4 µg/g. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound reduces the time necessary to complete the extraction 160 and 26 times, the extraction volume 2.5 and 4 times, and increases the extraction efficiency 5 and 3 times for lipidic and phenolic fractions, respectively, in comparison with conventional extraction methods. In addition, the characterization of the lipidic and phenolic fractions constitutes a first approach to the H. inuloides metabolome.

Chemical constituents from the roots of Homonoia riparia.

A new compound and twelve known compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Homonoia riparia Lour, which are used in folk medicine for treatment of hepatitis, bellyache and scald, by the method of silica gel column chromatography repeatedly with a gradient of PE-EtOAc, PE-Me2CO, CHCl3-Me2CO, CHCl3-MeOH. Their structures were identified as a new compound 1-oxo-aleuritolic acid (1), and twelve known compounds aleuritolic acid (2), 3-acetoxy-aleuritolic acid (3), taraxerone (4), taraxerol (5), methyl 3-acetoxy-12-oleanen-28-oate (6), 3-acetoxy-12-oleanen-28-ol (7), ursolic acid (8), lupenol (9), 3beta-acetoxy-lupenol (10), cleomiscosin A (11), chrysophanol (12), and gallic acid (13), which were obtained from this plant for the first time, by the spectroscopic techniques of NMR, HMBC, IR and MS, separately. Among the cytotoxicities evaluation of compounds 1 -3 towards AGZY 83-a (human lung cancer cells) and SMMC-7721 (human liver cancer cells) tumor cells was assayed by MTT methods with cis-dichlorodiamminoplatinum (DDP) used as positive control. Compound 2 exerted weak activity against AGZY 83-a with the IC50 value of 33.055 microg x mL(-1), while 1 and 3 showed no activity to these two cell lines.

[Analysis of constituents of essential oil from the skin of water caltrop].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the constituents of essential oil from the skin of water caltrop. METHOD: Water steam distillation and GC-MS were used. RESULT: 58 componds were separated respectively. 56 componds being identified which were 96. 5% of the totle essential oil. CONCLUSION: Diethyl phthalate, acetamide, N-acetyl-N, N'-1,2-ethanediylbis-, isopropyl palmitate, hexadecanoic acid, Z-11 and octadecanoic acid are the main component of essential oil from the skin of water caltrop.

Antifilarial activity in vitro of polycarpol and 3-O-acetyl aleuritolic acid from cameroonian medicinal plants against Onchocerca gutturosa.

Previous results have revealed the antifilarial activities of crude extracts and pure compounds from some Cameroonian medicinal plants against Onchocerca volvulus and Onchocerca gutturosa. In our efforts to find new filaricidal agents against adult male O. gutturosa worms, we have isolated and screened three compounds: polycarpol and polyveoline from Polyalthia suaveolens (Annonaceae) and 3-O-acetyl aleuritolic acid from Discoglypremna caloneura (Euphorbiaceae). Only polycarpol and 3-O-acetyl aleuritolic acid exhibited significant inhibitory activities on the vitality of adult male worms of O. gutturosa using Amocarzine as positive control compound. The motility reduction values were 28.6 and 57.1%, and the inhibition of MTT reduction values 80.0 and 64.8% respectively.

[Study on optimizing the extraction process of total free organic acids in Pinellia ternate Breit].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction process of total free organic acids in Pinellia ternate Breit. METHOD: The optimum extraction was investigated by total free organic acids determined by direct potential titration. The concentration of ethanol, amount of ethanol, extraction time and extraction times were the four factors in the experiment. RESULTS: The optimum extraction process was adding 10 times amount of 75% ethanol, refluxing for 2 times, 1 h each time. CONCLUSION: This extraction process shows higher yield of total free organic acids in Pinellia ternate Breit and is available for industrial production.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of the essential oil from the leaves of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen].

OBJECTIVE: To study the constituents of the essential oil from the leaves of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen. METHOD: The constituent were separated and identified by GS-MS. RESULT: 21 compounds from the essential oil were identifed, which account for 77.71% of total volatile oils, 21.73% of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 13.97% of n-hexadecanoic acid, 6.69% of phenol. CONCLUSION: The study provided a chemical basis as a medicinal herb.

Constituintes químicos de Cambessedesia espora DC - Melastomataceae / Chemical contituents from Cambessedesia espora DC - Melastomataceae

O fracionamento cromatográfico do extrato hexânico das partes aéreas de Cambessedesia espora DC - Melastomataceae levou ao isolamento dos ácidos palmítico, mirístico e esteárico, ß-Silosterol e do triterpeno fern-9(11)-en-3ß-ol. As substâncias foram identificadas por métodos espectroscópicos usuais (RMN, IV, CG/EM).

[Chemical constituents of Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinsk].

Four compounds were isolated from the leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus. They were identified as daucosstero, beta-L-arabopyranose, steraric acid and palmitic acid on the basis of spectral data and chemical properties. All of them were isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Chemical constituents of Emilia sonchifolia L. DC].

Five known compounds were obtained from the whole plant of Emilia sonchifolia. By means of chemical and spectral methods, they were identified to be simiral, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, palmitic acid and honey acid.

[Constituents of the dry roots of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch].

From the extract of dry roots of Rehmannia glutimosa, fatty acids, palmitic acid, beta-sitosterol, daucosterol and sulfur (Ss) cyclic compound were isolated and identified. The latter four were isolated for the first time.

[Chemical constituents of the pericarp of Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms].

Nine compounds were isolated from the pericarp of T. rosthornii and identified on the basis of spectral data to be palmitic acid, lignoceric acid, cerotic acid, montanic acid, melissic acid, L-(-)-alpha-monopalmitin, delta 7-stigmastenol, delta 7-stigmastenone-3 and delta 7-stigmatenol-3-beta-D-glucopyranoside. All but the last one are obtained from this species for the first time.

[Volatile components of herbal Cynomorii].

The volatile components were obtained from Herba Cynomorii for the first time (yield 0.02%). These components were analysed by TLC and GC-MS. Twenty-two compounds, including the main components hexadecanoic acid and 9-octadecenoic acid, were identified. Their percent contents were given.

[Studies on the structure of a new flavanonol glucoside of the root-sprouts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb].

Three compounds were isolated from benzene and acetone extracts of the root-sprouts of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. On the basis of physicochemical properties, spectroscopy (UV, IR, NMR, MS, CD, GC) and chemical degradation, two known compounds were identified as palmitic acid (VIII) and daucosterol (IX), one new compound was elucidated as (2S,3S)-(-)-taxifolin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (X).