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Caffeine-containing food supplements are often used as weight loss or memory enhancement support, which increases the potential risk for overdosing the compound. Whereas the presence of iodine-containing seaweed fucus in such products may result in thyroid disorders, when permanently overdosed. The study aimed to assess the content of caffeine and iodine in food supplements. Caffeine amount in tablets and capsules ranged from 91.8 to 138.9% of the declared content, and 2.6 ± 0.3 to 21.8 ± 2.8 mg/portion for the herbal blends with undeclared caffeine content. Iodine content ranged from 10.6 ± 0.4 to 52.5 ± 3.7 µg/portion of the products. Our results, although preliminary, suggest questionable usefulness of the tested preparations as weight loss support. Likewise, a simultaneous consumption of the recommended amounts with caffeine from other sources (e.g. coffee, tea, energy drinks, etc.), is unlikely to cause adverse effects.

Triterpene compounds constitute one of the major groups of plant secondary metabolites. They often occur as ingredients of daily diet or of herbal products used for therapeutic purposes. Each year many pharmacological activities of these compounds are described. This mini-review summarizes pharmacological properties of natural, non-glycosylated triterpenoids, that were reported over the past five years, with special emphasis on antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antiinflammatory effects.

Quantitative high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of triterpene saponins in different parts of eight LysimachiaL. species is described. For separation, silica gel F254 plates were used with chloroform-methanol-water (8:7:1, v/v) as mobile phase 1 and with n-butanol-acetic acid-water (6:1:3, v/v) as mobile phase 2. The method was validated for selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and indirect precision. Saponins were most abundant in the underground parts of all analyzed species, where their content ranged from 0.12% in Lysimachia clethroidesto 1.18% in Lysimachia ephemerum. The saponin levels in aerial parts of the plant were generally lower, the only exception being L. ephemerumleaf (1.57%) and Lysimachia thyrsiflora stem(2.26%). The method is sensitive with good precision and accuracy and may be suitable for comparison of the differences in saponin content among samples from various related species and genera.

Conditions have been established for identification and quantification of genistin and daidzin in extracts of different soy cultivars by densitometric thin-layer chromatography. Good resolution of the genistin and daidzin peaks was achieved by chromatographic separation on silica gel F254HPTLC plates with chloroform—metha-nol—water, 23 + 8 + 1 (v/v), as mobile phase. Under these analytical conditions there was no interference from other extract components.

Conditions have been established for determination of diosmin in pharmaceutical formulations, for example ‘Diosminin’, by TLC with densitometric detection. Chromatographic separation on silica gel was performed with chloroform—methanol—water, 23 + 12 + 2 (v/v), as mobile phase and the spots were analyzed by densitometry at λ= 344 nm. Under the experimental conditions established repeatable and accurate results were obtained. The method is characterized by high sensitivity — the limit of detection was 20 ng — and satisfactory recovery — from 99.8 to 103.0%. Response was linearly dependent on concentration in the range 5 to 50 µg mL−1.

Athin layer chromatographic method with densitometric UV detection at λ = 285 nm has been developed for quantification of embelin in Lysimachia punctata. TLC analysis was performed on aluminumbacked silica gel 60 F254plates with n-hexane—ethyl acetate, 7 + 3 (v/v), as mobile phase. Under these experimental conditions the method was highly sensitive (the limit of detection was 12.5 ng) and recovery was satisfactory (from 89.45% to 92.28%). Good results obtained during validation of the method were confirmed in quantification of embelin, because high precision and accuracy were achieved.

A thin layer chromatographic method with densitometric detection has been developed for the identification and quantification of aucubin in the presence of other iridoids in syrups containing a variety of plant extracts. Chromatographic separation was performed on silica gel HPTLC plates with 1,4-dioxane-xylene-propan-2-ol-25% ammonia, 1+3 + 5 + 1 (v/v), as mobile phase. Chromatograms were visualized by spraying with a 2:1 mixture of 1% ethanolic 4-dimethylbenzaldehyde and 36% hydrochloric acid. Rpvalues were measured for standards and test solutions and the spots were scanned densitometrically in visible light at A = 580 nm. Under these conditions the method was highly sensitive - the limit of detection was 4.6 × 10 5mg mL1and recovery of aucubin was satisfactory (91.14%).

Diosgenin in methanolic extracts of fresh leaves and bulbs of Allium ursinumcollected at different times during plant development has been analyzed quantitatively by densitometric TLC. After acid hydrolysis of the extracts, TLC was performed on silica gel plates with n-hexane-acetone 4:1 (v/v) as mobile phase. Bands were visualized with 25% H2SO4in methanol, and diosgenin was quantified densitometrically at 540 nm. Variation in diosgenin content with development time was noted.

The phenolic acids content of methanolic extracts before and after acidic hydrolysis of different morphological parts of Chenopodium rubrumwas determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Overall eleven phenolic acids were detected and quantified. The most common were p-coumaric, ferulic and salicylic acids, which were present in all analyzed extracts. Gallic, caffeic, vanillic, syringic and sinapic acids were found in bound forms. Gentisic acid was most abundant in roots (3.7 mg/100g d.w.), syringic acid in stalks (2.9 mg/100 g d.w.), ferulic acid in leaves (6.0 mg/100g d.w.), and protocatechuic acid in seeds (2.3 mg/100g d.w.). The highest concentration of examined acids was found in leaves (19.1 mg/100g d.w.) and roots (10.0 mg/100g d.w.). Cytotoxic activity of extracts was tested against human cancer cell lines HTB 140, WM 793, Du 145 and normal PNT2 cells. Only the seed extract showed activity against malignant melanoma WM 793 cell line (69.6 ± 0.7% of dead cells at 100 μg/mL).

Two minor triterpene saponins, one previously not reported, were isolated from the underground parts of Lysimachia thyrsifloraL. The structures were determined based on a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques, and mass spectrometry, as 30-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3β,16α,30-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-yl acetate 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-]-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (denoted as thyrsiloside A), and davuricoside L. Quantitative determination of these two compounds, along with other saponins present in L. thyrsifloraunderground parts, was performed by a developed UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method, validated according to the ICH guidelines. The relative total content of triterpene saponins amounted to 1.19 μg/mg dw. Both 4and 5were present in minor quantities, 0.031 and 0.077 μg/mg dw, respectively. Assays performed on a panel of human cancer cell lines showed antiproliferative activity against prostate carcinoma PC-3 (GI50after 48 h = 20 and 24 μg/mL, respectively).