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Summary A selective and simplest possible high-performance TLC (HPTLC) method for quantification of oenothein B on the basis of the free gallic acid and total gallic acid content after acid hydrolysis has been developed and used for analysis of cultivated Epilobium angustifolium. HPTLC of aqueous extracts of E. angustifolium was performed on silica gel with benzene–methanol–acetic acid 90:16:8 (v/v), as mobile phase. Quantitative evaluation of the plate was performed at 570 nm after derivatization with 1% ethanolic FeCl3 solution. The method was validated for precision, repeatability, and accuracy. Average recovery of the active ingredient from the samples was in the range 95.43–104.57%. The calibration plots were linear in the range 440–2200 ng per band. The technique was used, for the first time, for estimation of the oenothein B content of cultivated E. angustifolium. The oenothein B content was highest at budding time (18.4–20.2 mg g–1) and decreased dramatically to 1.0 mg g–1 after flowering.

Siberian pine ( Pinus sibirica Du Tour) seeds, commonly known as cedar nuts, are ascribed a number of medicinal properties. In this study, we report the qualitative–quantitative composition, antioxidant activity and cell viability-related properties of a defatted aqueous-acetone-soluble P . sibirica seed extract. The total phenolic and total tannin contents were estimated at 266 ± 3.9 mg gallic acid/g and 115 ± 7.8 mg tannic acid/g, respectively. Reverse-phase chromatographic analysis of the crude extract indicated the presence of a chromatographic hump indicative of the presence of proanthocyanidins. After acid hydrolysis, the presence of hydroxylated benzoic and cinnamic acids, flavanones and flavan-3-ols was confirmed. After thiolysis, (+)-catechin was identified as more abundant than (−)-epicatechin, suggesting that this molecule was the main terminal unit of the proanthocyanidins within this extract. The extract demonstrated iron(III)-reductive ( AscAE = 650 ± 5.10 μmol ascorbic acid/g) and iron(II) chelating (EC 50 = 20.1 ± 2.1) activities and the ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (IC 50 = 257 ± 2.36 μg/ml) and hydroxyl (IC 50 = 338 ± 6.49 μg/ml) free radicals. When the effects of P. sibirica extract were assessed in a tumourigenic SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line, it was found that the cell viability was diminished in the presence of P. sibirica extract (0.2–1.0 mg/ml), as indicated by decreased membrane integrity (LDH assay) and mitochondrial metabolic activity (MTT assay), but the level of p53 protein was not changed (Western blot).

Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) (Euphorbiaceae) has a distinguished history in Ayurveda medicine and is ascribed a number of medicinal properties and as a dietary supplement, its use is increasing in Western countries. It is thought that its beneficial properties are a function of its antioxidant potency. The study investigated the chemistry and antioxidant properties of four commercial E. officinalis fruit extracts in order to determine if there are any qualitative–quantitative differences. All extracts produced positive responses in the total phenol, total flavonoid and total tannin assays. The presence of predominantly (poly)phenolic analytes, e.g. ellagic and gallic acids and corilagin, was confirmed by RP-HPLC coupled with photodiode array detection. Despite ascorbic acid being a major constituent of E. officinalis fruits, the furanolactone could not be identified in one of the samples. The extracts demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidative efficacy. The extract designated IG-3 was consistently amongst the most effective extracts in the iron(III) reduction and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays while the extract designated IG-1 demonstrated the best hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. All extracts appeared to be incapable of chelating iron(II) at realistic concentrations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Herba of Epimedium koreanum is used in traditional Chinese and Korean herbal medicine as a potent enhancer of erectile function. Icariin, the main active component of Epimedium koreanum , possesses many biological effects, such as improving cardiovascular function, hormone regulation, immunological function modulation, and anti-tumor activity. Aim of the Study This study supports the traditional use of extracts from Epimedium species in erectile dysfunction. Materials and Methods The Epimedium koreanum dry extract was suspended in wheat germ oil using lecithin and bee wax for oral administration. The effect of oral administration of two compositions (E-01 and E-02) standardized by their icariin content on the number of complete intromissions, the number of ejaculations, and the latent period of ejaculation (LPE) in rats were evaluated. E-01 and E-02 were administered orally for 10 days to the experimental animals. The control animals received olive oil for 10 days. On day 10, 0.5 h after the dose was administered to male rats, one virgin female rat was placed with one male rat. Results The number of complete intromissions increased to 23.3 ± 2.6 in the E-01 and E-02 group (dose 300 mg/kg body weight) (b.wt) and to 20.1 ± 2.3 in the E-02 group (dose 750 mg/kg b.wt) compared with 15.2 ± 2.4 in the control group of aged rats. The number of ejaculations increased from 1.1 ± 0.3 in the control-aged group to 2.6 ± 0.4 in the E-01 group. The LPE of male rats was 14.2 ± 1.8 min in the control-aged group. The LPE of the aged group was reduced to 9.8 ± 1.5 min, 9.8 ± 1.6 min, and 11.4 ± 1.8 min when treated with E-01 at a dose of 300 mg/kg b.wt, and E-02 at a dose of 300 mg/kg b.wt and 750 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. Conclusion It was established that oral administration of lipid-based suspension of dry extract of Epimedium koreanum in wheat germ oil improved erectile function of aged rats.

Five commercially available water-soluble extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Epilobium angustifolium L. (Onagraceae) were screened for antioxidant-related properties in a battery of six in vitro assays. Total phenol content and qualitative-quantitative analyses were also carried out. The extracts demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in each screen. Two extracts, denoted as nonfermented and Tver, were the most effective toward reducing iron(III), scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals, inhibiting hydroxyl radical-catalyzed bovine brain-derived phospholipid degradation, and non-site- and site-specific hydroxyl radical-catalyzed 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation. The activity profile of the extracts changed, however, when their iron(II) chelating ability was assessed. The nonfermented and Tver extracts were not as effective iron(II) chelators as the extract denoted as Lotos. All the extracts contained Folin-Ciocalteu-reactive substances, which was confirmed by the presence of predominantly polar phenolic analytes (i.e., hydroxylated benzoic acid derivatives and flavonoids).