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There are numerous phytochemicals (isoflavones, flavonoids, catechins, anthocyanins, carotenoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids), which are largely used in the pharmaceutical industry. This research describes the process through which, one can obtain medicinal extracts from mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) while giving an exact characterisation of the two extracts. The HPLC/MS analysis was employed in order to identify and evaluate the presence of phenolic acids (gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and sinapic acid) and of flavonoids (hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin and luteolin). The results suggest that these medicinal extracts could replace the chemical compounds used in various therapies and which unfortunately have side effects on patients.

Syringa vulgaris L. (common lilac) is one of the most popular ornamental species, but also a promising not comprehensively studied source of bioactive compounds with important therapeutic potential. Our study was designed to characterize the chemical composition and to assess the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of ethanolic extracts obtained from S. vulgaris L. flowers, leaves, bark, and fruit. The chemical profile of the ethanolic extracts was investigated using chromatographic (HPLC-DAD-ESI+, GC-MS) and spectral (UV-Vis, FT-IR) methods, while the protective effect against free radicals was evaluated in vitro by different chemical assays (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC). The cytotoxic activity was tested on two tumoral cell lines, HeLa, B16F10, using the MTT assay. Significant amounts of free or glycosylated chemical components belonging to various therapeutically important structural classes, such as phenyl-propanoids (syringin, acteoside, echinacoside), flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol derivatives) and secoiridoids (secologanoside, oleuropein, 10-hydroxy oleuropein, demethyloleuropein, syringalactone A, nuzhenide, lingstroside) were obtained for the flowers, leaves and bark extracts, respectively. Furthermore, MTT tests pointed out a significant cytotoxic potential expressed in a non-dose-dependent manner toward the tumoral lines. The performed methods underlined that S. vulgaris extracts, in particular belonging to flowers and leaves, represent valuable sources of compounds with antioxidant and antitumoral potential.

Ethnopharmacology is a new interdisciplinary science that appeared in Europe of the ‘90, in France, as a necessity claimed by the return to the traditional remedies of each nation. The aim of this study is to identify and quantify the active ingredients of the species Viscum album and Allium sativum, in order to provide a complex chemical characterisation, which is necessary for the use of these plants’ extracts as natural ingredients in the pharmaceutical industry. The following methods were used: (1) the plant material was harvested from the west-side of Romania (Europe) in July 2014; (2) it was dried quickly and the main active principles were extracted using ethylic alcohol solution (50%); (3) the quantitative analyses of the flavonoids and polyphenols were performed according to a procedure described in the Romanian Pharmacopoeia. FT-IR results showed that the Viscum album extract had the highest content of polyphenolic compounds, for both flavonoids and polyphenols. This is the reason why it can be concluded that alcoholic extracts of mistletoe must be used as supplements for diabetics who require diets with flavonoids or for patients with cancers, degenerative diseases, and particularly cardiovascular diseases, who need an increased amount of polyphenols.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v4i5.22861 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, April 2015, 4(5): 382-385

The objective of this study is to determine flavonoids and polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of extracts of figs growing in Romania. The content of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds was determined according to the Romanian Phar?macopoeia, the 10th edition, using the standard rutin for flavonoids, catechol for polyphe?nols and HPLC for flavonoids quantification. Determination of antioxidant activity was done by DPPH scavenging method and at cellular level by attenuation of oxidative damage in human erythrocytes. The experimental results reveal that Ficus carica extracts may be a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Background Pentacyclic triterpenes, mainly betulin and betulinic acid, are valuable anticancer agents found in the bark of birch tree. This study evaluates birch bark extracts for the active principles composition. Results New improved extraction methods were applied on the bark of Betula pendula in order to reach the maximum content in active principles. Extracts were analyzed by HPLC-MS, Raman, SERS and 13C NMR spectroscopy which revealed a very high yield of betulin (over 90%). Growth inhibiting effects were measured in vitro on four malignant human cell lines: A431 (skin epidermoid carcinoma), A2780 (ovarian carcinoma), HeLa (cervix adenocarcinoma) and MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma), by means of MTT assay. All of the prepared bark extracts exerted a pronounced antiproliferative effect against human cancer cell lines. In vivo studies involved the anti-inflammatory effect of birch extracts on TPA-induced model of inflammation in mice. Conclusions The research revealed the efficacy of the extraction procedures as well as the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of birch extracts.