The impact of ultrasonic-assisted extraction on the in vitro hypoglycemic activity of peach gum polysaccharide in relation to its conformational conversion.

BACKGROUND: Peach gum (PG) is an exudate of the peach tree (Prunus persica of the Rosaceae family), which consists primarily of polysaccharides with a large molecular weight and branching structure. Consequently, PG can only swell in water and does not dissolve easily, which severely limits its application. Current conventional extraction methods for PG polysaccharide (PGPS) are time consuming and inefficient. This study investigated the impact of ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) on PGPS structure and conformation, and their relationship to hypoglycemic activity in vitro. RESULTS: In comparison with conventional aqueous extraction, UAE enhanced PGPS yielded from 28.07-32.83% to 80.37-84.90% (w/w) in 2 h. It drastically decreased the molecular size and conformational parameters of PGPS, including weight-average molecular weight (Mw), number-average molecular weight (Mn), z-average radius of gyration (Rg), hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and instrinsic viscosity ([η]) values. Peach gum polysaccharide conformation converted extended molecules to flexible random coil chains or compact spheres with no obvious primary structure alteration. Furthermore, UAE altered the flow behavior of PGPS solution from that of a non-Newtonian fluid to that of a Newtonian fluid. As a result, PGPS treated with UAE displayed weaker inhibitory activity than untreated PGPS, mostly because UAE weakens the binding strength of PGPS to α-glucosidase. However, this negative effect of UAE on PGPS activity was compensated by the increased solubility of polysaccharide. This enabled PGPS to achieve a wider range of doses. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic-assisted extraction is capable of degrading PGPS efficiently while preserving its primary structure, resulting in a Newtonian fluid solution. The degraded PGPS conformations displayed a consistent correlation with their inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Structure-function relationship of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract-xanthan/guar gum mixture in a high sugar content system.

BACKGROUND: Foam-gels are one of the most important multicomponent-model systems in aerated confectionery, and an investigation of their microstructure is desirable. In this research, the structure-function relationship of xanthan gum/guar gum (XG/GG) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract powder (LEP) was investigated in a high-sugar medium. Foam-gel systems were prepared at 4:10% to 8:20% ratios of LEP to biopolymer. RESULTS: The results show that increasing the LEP content reduced both the melting point and enthalpy, probably due to higher overrun and weaker junctions. Boosting the XG/GG ratio led the enhancement of mechanical properties, whereas increasing the LEP concentration weakened all textural parameters, which could be due to the poor structure of the network in the presence of the foaming agent, increased moisture content and overrun. In the whipped mixture samples containing 10 g kg-1 XG/GG, higher foaming capacity was observed. By increasing the level of biopolymers, smaller and more uniform air cells were formed according to a scanning electron microscopical study. At higher concentration of LEP, smaller bubbles and increased porosity were seen, which could be attributed to the availability of surfactant in the interfacial layer. CONCLUSION: Maximum structural strength was achieved at a 4:20 ratio of LEP to XG/GG. In rheological experiments, pseudoplastic behavior was seen in all samples. Generally, this model system can be simulated for other herbal extracts containing natural surfactants such as saponins. Achieving a more detailed understanding of these structures and their interactions could help in formulating novel food products. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of the mucoadhesive strengths of Abelmoschus esculentus and Irvingia gabonensis gums for possible application in veterinary vaccine delivery: the effect of extraction methods.

This study evaluates the effects of different gum extraction methods on the mucoadhesive strengths of Abelmoschus esculentus (AE) and Irvingia gabonensis (IG) gums and the release of vaccine antigen in vaccine-gum formulations. AE and IG gums were extracted employing previously documented methods with acetone or sodium chloride (NaCl) and either oven-dried or freeze-dried. Gum extracts were analyzed for mucoadhesive strengths using a modified rotational cylinder method on animal mucosa. The time taken to detach from the mucosa was taken as the Peak Adhesion Time (PAT). The gum extracts were charged with Peste des petits ruminant vaccine and the antigen release was evaluated using agar gel immunodiffusion technique. The means of the PATS were analyzed using Mann-whitney t-test at p < .05. The NaCl extracted and freeze-dried IG gum showed sustained mean PATs of 1766 ± 73 s; 2116 ± 101 s; 7044 ± 117 s, while the oven-dried IG gum and both AE gums showed short-lived average PATs. Vaccine-gum formulations of IG at ratios 2:1, 1:1 & 1:2 had strong positive reactions while only that of AE at 2:1 showed a strong positive reaction. This study shows that NaCl extracted and freeze-dried IG gum has immunomodulatory potential for mucoadhesive vaccine delivery in ruminants.

Design, synthesis, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and cell based studies of some novel side chain analogues of myrrhanones A & B isolated from the gum resin of Commiphora mukul.

Myrrhanones A (1) and B (2), isolated from the gum resin of Commiphora mukul, were reported to exhibit anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. In view of their interesting skeletal features and biological activities they have been chemically modified by exploiting their side chain functionalities to synthesise 29 diverse analogues. All the synthesized analogues were screened for their cytotoxic potential against a panel of five human cancer cell lines which include DU145 (Prostate), HT-29 (Colon), MCF-7 (Breast), Hela (Cervical) and U87MG (Glioblastoma) along with a normal cell line (L132). The synthesized analogues were also screened for anti-inflammatory activity against TNF-α and IL-1ß using LPS induced inflammation model employing U937 cells. The biological screening results revealed that compounds 4b (piperidine analogue), 9d (linear aliphatic four member amide analogue) and 9i (N-methyl piperazine analogue) displayed significant cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, HT-29 and DU145 [IC50 (µM): 4.65 ±â€¯1.28, 5.48 ±â€¯0.13 and 6.63 ±â€¯1.39] respectively. These analogues were further taken up for apoptotic assay, which confirmed that compounds 4b, 9d and 9i induced apoptosis in MCF-7, HT-29, DU145 cells and arrested in G0/G1 phase. Further, compounds 9c and 9g found to exhibit good anti-inflammatory activity against TNF-α with IC50 (µM) values of 10.02 ±â€¯2.13 and 10.53 ±â€¯0.48 respectively, while compound 2 exhibited strong inhibitory activity against both TNF-α (IC50: 9.39 ±â€¯0.44 µM) and IL-1ß (IC50: 12.15 ±â€¯1.36 µM).

Purification and modification of Cordia myxa gum to enhance its nutraceutical attribute as binding agent.

The aim of the present study was to purify, hydrolyze and modify the Cordia myxa gum to document its binder potential in pharmaceutical tablets formulation. The hydrolysis and modification was carried out to remove impurities, roughness, increase thermal stability and to improve the functional properties of biopolymers. Physiochemical properties such as pH, solubility, viscosity, swelling index, bulk and tapped density was performed prior to investigate binder potential. The binder potential of Cordia myxa gum was studied in its different forms such as crude, purified, modified and hydrolyzed in paracetamol tablets and was compared with standard hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) being used as synthetic binder. Tablets were prepared by direct compression method and evaluated for weight uniformity, hardness, friability, disintegration time and dissolution analysis. Prepared tablets with selected gums exhibit faster and slower dissolution profile in the same dissolution system. The crude gum has high dissolution rate whereas the hydrolyzed and modified gums showed less dissolution rate. The hydrolyzed and modified gums having faster release rate and it could be helpful in conventional tablet formulations efficiently as compared to synthetic HPMC binder.

Application of high-pressure homogenization on gums.

High-pressure homogenization (HPH) is an emerging process during which a fluid product is pumped by pressure intensifiers, forcing it to flow through a narrow gap, usually measured in the order of micrometers. Gums are polysaccharides from vegetal, animal or microbial origin and are widely employed in food and chemical industries as thickeners, stabilizers, gelling agents and emulsifiers. The choice of a specific gum depends on its application and purpose because each form of gum has particular values with respect to viscosity, intrinsic viscosity, stability, and emulsifying and gelling properties, with these parameters being determined by its structure. HPH is able to alter those properties positively by inducing changes in the original polymer, allowing for new applications and improvements with respect to the technical properties of gums. This review highlights the most important advances when this process is applied to change polysaccharides from distinct sources and molecular structures, as well as the future challenges that remain. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Kheri (Acacia chundra, family: Mimosaceae) gum: Characterization using analytical, mathematical and pharmaceutical approaches.

BACKGROUND: Natural polymers have been used in medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry. They should be characterized before their possible applications in different industries. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize Kheri (Acacia chundra, family: Mimosaceae) gum using analytical, mathematical and pharmaceutical approaches. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Crude Kheri gum (KG) was purified using distilled water as a solvent and ethanol as a precipitating agent. KG was characterized in terms of phytochemical screening, micromeritic properties, microbial load, ash value, rheological behavior, solid state 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectra and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies for their possible applications in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry. RESULTS: Studies show that KG contains carbohydrates, while protein, fat, volatile oils, alkaloids and glycosides are absent. 1% aqueous solution of polysaccharide showed 25.58 × 103 kJ/kg activation energy and 1.39 Reynold's number. Viscosity average molecular weight of purified gum was found 1.73 × 105 D. Thermodynamic parameters, i.e., change in enthalpy ΔHv and change in enthalpy ΔHv, were found to be 12.26 × 103 kJ/mol and 24.47 kJ/mol, respectively. Mathematical approach also determined the rod shaped conformation of KG in aqueous solution. IR spectroscopic study shows the presence of free (COO-) and esterified (COO-R) carboxylic acid, ether (C-O stretching), galacturonic acid and mannose in polysaccharide 1H NMR study predicts presence of tetrahydropyran hydrogen in molecule. Furthermore, KG was also characterized as a suspending agent using paracetamol as a model drug. Flow rate, pH, particle size and settling behavior of suspensions were evaluated. Initial particle size of dispersed phase particles does not change significantly after 45 days. CONCLUSIONS: From the findings of the research it can be concluded that KG can be used as an excipient in cosmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals and its characteristic rheological behavior may attract rheologists.

Functional Components of Carob Fruit: Linking the Chemical and Biological Space.

The contribution of natural products to the drug-discovery pipeline has been remarkable since they have served as a rich source for drug development and discovery. Natural products have adapted, during the course of evolution, optimum chemical scaffolds against a wide variety of diseases, including cancer and diabetes. Advances in high-throughput screening assays, assisted by the continuous development on the instrumentation's capabilities and omics, have resulted in charting a large chemical and biological space of drug-like compounds, originating from natural sources. Herein, we attempt to integrate the information on the chemical composition and the associated biological impact of carob fruit in regards to human health. The beneficial and health-promoting effects of carob along with the clinical trials and the drug formulations derived from carob's natural components are presented in this review.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) gum: a potent inhibitor of reactive oxygen species.

In the present study, in order to evaluate antioxidant and radical scavenging properties of Pistachio gum (P-Gum), different bioanalytical methods such as DPPH(•) scavenging activity, DMPD(•+) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity determination by ferric thiocyanate, reducing ability Fe(3+)-Fe(2+) transformation, Cuprac and FRAP assays, O2(•-) scavenging by riboflavin-methionine-illuminate system and ferrous ions (Fe(2+)) chelating activities by 2,2'-bipyridyl reagent were performed separately. P-Gum inhibited 54.2% linoleic acid peroxidation at 10 µg/ml concentration. On the other hand, BHA, BHT, α-tocopherol and trolox, pure antioxidant compounds, indicated inhibition of 80.3%, 73.5%, 36.2% and 72.0% on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at the same concentration, respectively. In addition, all of sample had an effective DPPH(•), DMPD(•+) and O2(•-) scavenging, Fe(3+) reducing power by Fe(3+)-Fe(2+) transformation and FRAP assay, Cu(2+) reducing ability by Cuprac method and Fe(2+) chelating activities.

Gastroprotective properties of cashew gum, a complex heteropolysaccharide of Anacardium occidentale, in naproxen-induced gastrointestinal damage in rats.

Long-term use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug is associated with gastrointestinal (GI) lesion formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective activity of cashew gum (CG), a complex heteropolysaccharide extracted from Anacardium occidentale on naproxen (NAP)-induced GI damage. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with vehicle or CG (1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) twice daily for 2 days; after 1 h, NAP (80 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered. The rats were euthanized on the 2nd day of treatment, 4 h after NAP administration. Stomach lesions were measured using digital calipers. The medial small intestine was used for the evaluation of macroscopic lesion scores. Samples of the stomach and the intestine were used for histological evaluation, and assays for glutathione (GSH), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Additional rats were used to measure gastric mucus and secretion. Pretreatment with CG reduced the macroscopic and microscopic damage induced by NAP. CG significantly attenuated NAP-induced alterations in MPO, GSH, and MDA levels. Furthermore, CG returned adherent mucus levels to normal values. These results suggest that CG has a protective effect against GI damage via mechanisms that involve the inhibition of inflammation and increasing the amount of adherent mucus in mucosa.

Extraction and Characterization of Boswellia Serrata Gum as Pharmaceutical Excipient.

BACKGROUND: This manuscript deals with the purification and characterization of Boswellia serrata gum as a suspending agent. The Boswellia serrata gum was purchased as crude material, purified and further characterized in terms of organoleptic properties and further micromeritic studies were carried out to characterize the polymer as a pharmaceutical excipient. The suspending properties of the polymer were also evaluated. The results showed that the extracted gum possesses optimum organoleptic as well as micromeritic and suspending properties. OBJECTIVES: To characterize Boswellia serrata gum as a natural excipient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Boswellia serrata gum, paracetamol, distilled water. RESULTS: The results showed that the extracted gum possesses optimum organoleptic as well as micromeritic and suspending properties. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded from the research work that the gum extracted from Boswellia serrata shows the presence of carbohydrates after chemical tests. All the organoleptic properties evaluated were found to be acceptable. The pH was found to be slightly acidic. Swelling Index reveals that the gum swells well in water. Total ash value was within the limits. The values of angle of repose and Carr's Index of powdered gum powder showed that the flow property was good. IR spectra confirmed the presence of alcohol, amines, ketones, anhydrides and aromatic rings. The suspending properties of Boswellia serrata gum were found to be higher as compared to gum acacia while the flow rate of Boswellia serrata gum (1% suspension) was less than gum acacia (1% suspension). The viscosity measurement of both Boswellia serrata gum suspension and gum acacia suspension showed approximately similar results.

Extraction and characterization of artocarpus integer gum as pharmaceutical excipient.

BACKGROUND: Natural polymers are widely used as excipients in pharmaceutical formulations. They are easily available, cheap and less toxic as compared to synthetic polymers. OBJECTIVES: This study involves the extraction and characterization of kathal (Artocarpus integer) gum as a pharmaceutical excipient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Water was used as a solvent for extraction of the natural polymer. Yield was calculated with an aim to evaluate the efficacy of the process. The product was screened for the presence of Micrometric properties, and swelling index, flow behavior, surface tension, and viscosity of natural polymers were calculated. RESULTS: Using a water based extraction method, the yield of gum was found to be 2.85%. Various parameters such as flow behavior, organoleptic properties, surface tension, viscosity, loss on drying, ash value and swelling index together with microscopic studies of particles were done to characterize the extracted gum. The result showed that extracted kathal gum exhibited excellent flow properties. The gum was investigated for purity by carrying out chemical tests for different phytochemical constituents and only carbohydrates were found to be present. It had a good swelling index (13 ± 1). The pH and surface tension of the 1% gum solution were found to be 6 ± 0.5 and 0.0627 J/m2, respectively. The ash values such as total ash, acid insoluble ash, and water soluble ash were found to be 18.9%, 0.67% and 4% respectively. Loss on drying was 6.61%. The extracted gum was soluble in warm water and insoluble in organic solvents. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed rough and irregular particles of the isolated polymer. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the evaluated properties showed that kathal-derived gum has acceptable pH and organoleptic properties and can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient to formulate solid oral dosage forms.

Influence of twin-screw extrusion on soluble arabinoxylans and corn fiber gum from corn fiber.

BACKGROUND: The effect of feed moisture content and screw speed in the extrusion process with and without chemical pretreatment of corn fiber was investigated. Different chemical pretreatment methods (NaOH and H2 SO4 solution) were compared. The improvement of reducing sugar, soluble arabinoxylans (SAX) content and the yield of corn fiber gum was measured. RESULTS: A high reducing sugar content was obtained in the filtrate fraction from the extruded destarched corn fiber (EDCF) with H2SO4 pretreatment. Feed moisture content most effectively improved both reducing sugar and SAX content of filtrate. Increasing feed moisture content and screw speed resulted in a higher SAX content in the filtrate of the EDCF with NaOH pretreatment. The SAX content of the residual solid from the EDCF with NaOH pretreatment was higher compared to H2SO4 pretreated and unpretreated samples and significantly increased with decreasing feed moisture content. The screw speed did not have a major impact after enzyme hydrolysis. The yield of corn fiber gum was increased by 12% using NaOH pretreatment combined with extrusion process as compared to the destarched corn fiber. CONCLUSION: The results show the great potential of the extrusion process as an effective pretreatment for disruption the lignocelluloses of corn fiber, leading to conversion of cellulose to glucose and hemicelluloses to SAX and isolation of corn fiber gum.

Guggulipid of Commiphora mukul, with antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic activities in both sciatic nerve and spinal nerve ligation models of neuropathic pain.

CONTEXT: Guggulipid is a neutral fraction of ethyl acetate extract of gum resin of the tree Commiphora mukul Engl. (Burseraceae) and used in Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of neurological disorders. OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to assess the antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic activities of guggulipid in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The screening study included the CCI and L5-L6 SNL models of neuropathic pain. Guggulipid (100 and 50 mg/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally in a blinded, randomized manner from postoperative day (POD) 7 to 13. Paw withdrawal duration (PWD) to spontaneous pain, chemical allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were tested before surgery, before and after guggulipid or saline administration (from POD7 to 13) and after the withdrawal of treatment (from POD14 to 20). RESULTS: The activity profiles of the different doses of guggulipid were found to vary with time. In CCI rats, guggulipid (100 and 50 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the spontaneous pain, mechanical allodynia and mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia responses and the LD50 of guggulipid was 1600 mg/kg. In SNL rats, both doses of guggulipid were found to be ineffective in reversing the spontaneous pain but showing antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic activity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that guggulipid produce antinociception in the peripheral nerve injury (CCI and SNL) models of neuropathic pain. The underlying mechanisms are expected to be modulating microglial activation occurring due to peripheral nerve injury.

Optimization of an aqueous tablet-coating process containing carboxymethylated Cassia fistula gum.

The present investigation was aimed at developing and optimizing a simple aqueous tablet-coating formulation and its process. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was used to ascertain the relative lipophilic/hydrophilic behavior of the coating system. Optimization was performed by evaluating the adhesive force strength and cohesive force strength of the tablet coat using a texture analyzer. The in vitro release of 5-FU was found to decrease with an increase in (tablet surface-coat) adhesive force strength. The (tablet-tablet) cohesive force strength was reduced by the addition of magnesium silicate to the coating solution. The addition of magnesium silicate (0.2% w/v) to the carboxymethyl Cassia fistula gum-chitosan (CCG-CH) coating surface significantly inhibited the release of 5-FU possibly due to an increase in the hydrophobic character of the coated tablet surface. This was possible by coating cohesive force strength reduction coating compositions (CCG-CH (70:30) and 0.3% magnesium silicate). Further, the FTIR-ATR and DSC analyses suggested the pivotal role of magnesium silicate in modifying the release of 5-FU from CCG-CH-coated tablets due to hydrogen bonding of its Si-O-Si or Mg-O groups with -OH moieties of CCG-CH.

[Study on the flax seed enzymatic degumming process by central composite design and response surface method].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize extraction condition of degumming from flax seed by the response surface method. METHODS: The central composite design-response surface method selected the best technology and forecasting analysis with the ratio of material to liquid, sodium chloride dosage, soaks time as the independent variable and flax seed dry rubber weight for the dependent variable, through to the level of the independent variable multiple linear regression and binomial fitting. RESULTS: The optimum process condition was as follows: ratio of liquid to materials was 37:1, sodium chloride dosage was 2 g, soaks time was 120 min. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, reasonable, stable and predictability.

Effect of compression pressure, preservative, and storage with potassium chloride on the microbiological quality of tablets formulated with Terminalia randii Gum (Combretaceae).

Gums are used as binders in tablets and also as emulsion stabilisers, suspending agents and thickeners in syrups. The need for other natural gums apart from the conventional gums to be employed as binding agents in tablets formulation led to this study. A gum obtained from the incised trunk of Terminalia randii (Combretaceae) was evaluated for the effect of compression pressure, methyl paraben preservative and storage with potassium chloride, on the microbial load of tablets formulated with the gum. The microbial load was determined by surface spread method on the processed gum at suitable dilutions, and tablets formulated from the gum at different compression pressures. The formulated tablets were evaluated for microbial load, also when stored in potassium chloride for 8 and 12 weeks with and without preservation with 1% Methyl Paraben. In each case the compressed tablets were incubated in 0.1% peptone water as control. The microbial load recorded reflected generally, reduction in microbial counts in tablets formulated with the gum as a binder both in terms of compression at different pressures and when the different compression pressures were associated with or without 1% methyl paraben in the presence of potassium chloride. Comparatively, the processed gum showed higher microbial load than the pressure compressed tablets. Besides the different compression pressures, duration of storage was also found to cause reduction of microbial load, particularly in the formulated tablets compressed with methyl paraben stored in potassium chloride such that after 8 weeks, the microbial load was zero. The studies showed that compression pressures and duration of storage caused marked reduction in microbial load of the tablets formulated with the processed gum of Terminalia randii as a binder.

Physicochemical and release behaviour of phytochemical compounds based on black jamun pulp extracts-filled alginate hydrogel beads through vibration dripping extrusion.

The phytochemical-rich extract obtained from black jamun pulp were encapsulated using vibrating dripping extrusion technique. The utilisation of alginate (AL) with four variations of core-shell material comprising gum Arabic (AL-GA), guar gum (AL-GG), pectin (AL-P) and xanthan gum (AL-X) was engaged to form calcium-alginate based lyophilised jamun extract encapsulated beads. It resulted that among four variations, lyophilised alginate with AL-GG based encapsulated jamun extract filled beads have better physicochemical characteristics and 95% encapsulation efficiency. The results revealed the morphological comparison of each variation. The release behaviour of AL-GG based beads has a higher release of total phenolics (TPC) and total anthocyanin content (TAC). The release kinetics model involving Ritger-Peppas and Higuchi model were applied for release TPC and TAC of all variations of beads. The Ritger-Peppas model was found best suitable in terms of average R2 (0.965) and lowest χ2 (0.0039). The release kinetics study showed that AL-GA based beads followed by AL-GG could also be the best suitable in release behaviour using simulated gastrointestinal fluids at 140-160 min. Overall, results shown the encapsulated Jamun beads have the best agro-industrial efficacy in form of phytochemical compounds based microparticles, holding decent antioxidant potential.

Chemical characterization of a commercial Commiphora wightii resin sample and chemical profiling to assess for authenticity.

The gum resin of Commiphora wightii [(Hook. ex Stocks) Engl.] is an ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of arthritis, inflammation, obesity, lipid disorders, and cardiovascular diseases and is known as guggul. Morphologically, it is not easy to distinguish guggul from closely related gum resins of other plants. Reliability of the commercially available guggul is critical due to the high risk of adulteration. To check authenticity, a commercial guggul sample was investigated for its chemical markers and 17 metabolites were identified, including three new, 20(S),21-epoxy-3-oxocholest-4-ene (1), 8 ß-hydroxy-3,20-dioxopregn-4,6-diene (2), and 5-(13' Z-nonadecenyl)resorcinol (17) from the ethyl acetate soluble part. During the current study, compounds 14- 17 were identified as constituents of Mangifera indica gum, as an adulterant in the commercial guggul sample. This discovery highlighted the common malpractices in the trade of medicinal raw material in the developing world. The structures of the compounds were deduced by the spectroscopic technique and chemical methods, as well as by comparison with the reported data. The structure of 20(S),21-epoxy-3-oxocholest-4-ene (1) was also unambiguously deduced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique.

Two new phenylpropanoids and one propanoate from Morinda citrifolia.

Two new phenylpropanoids, methyl 3-(2,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)propionate (1) and butyl 3-(2,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)propionate (2), and one unusual propanoate, 5-hydroxyhexyl 2-hydroxypropanoate (3), were isolated from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia. Their structures were established using MS and NMR methods.