Herbs and herbs raw stuff that contain triterpenoid saponins

Glycyrrhizae radices, EuPh Liquoritiae radices Liquorice root Glycyrrhiza glabra- Fabaceae Content: minimum 4 % of glycyrrhizic acid IDENTIFICATION A. The root has few branches. Its bark is brownish-grey or brown with longitudinal striations and bears traces of lateral roots. The cylindrical stolons are 1-2 cm in diameter; their external appearance is similar to that of the root but there are occasional small buds. The fracture of the root and the stolon is granular and fibrous. The cork layer is thin; the secondary phloem region is thick and light yellow with radial striations. The yellow xylem cylinder is compact, with a radiate structure. The stolon has a central pith, which is absent from the root. The external part of the bark is absent from the peeled root.

B. Fragments of yellow thick-walled fibres, 700-1200 μm long and 10-20 μm wide with a punctiform lumen, often accompanied by crystal sheaths containing prisms of calcium oxalate 10-35 μm, long and 2-5 μm wide. The walls of the large vessels are yellow, 5-10 μm thick, lignified and have numerous bordered pits with a slit-shaped aperture; fragments of cork consisting of thin-walled cells and isolated prisms of calcium oxalate occur as well as fragments of parenchymatous tissue. Fragments of cork are absent from the peeled root. Simple, round or oval starch granules, 2-20 μm in diameter.

C. Thin-layer chromatography Reference solution. Dissolve 5.0 mg of glycyrrhetic acid R and 5.0 mg of thymol R in 5.0 ml of ether R. TESTS Loss on drying (2.2.32) : maximum 10.0 per cent, determined on 1.000 g of powdered drug (355) (2.9.12) by drying in an oven at 105 °C for 2 h. Total ash (2.4.16) : maximum 10.0 per cent for the unpeeled drug and maximum 6.0 per cent for the peeled drug. Ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid (2.8.1) : maximum 2.0 per cent for the unpeeled drug and maximum 0.5 per cent for the peeled drug. ASSAY Liquid chromatography (2.2.29) Monoammonium glycyrrhizate

Constituents. 5 to 8% of glycyrrhizin, an intensely sweet, water-soluble principle consisting of the potassium and calcium salts of glycyrrhizinic acid; glycyramarin (a bitter principle) occurring mostly in the bark; mannite, volatile oil, resin, starch, sucrose, glucose, flavonoid glucosides, calcium oxalate, pectinic substances etc. Glycyrrhetic acid

At bronchial asthma, allergy dermatitis, other allergic condition Uses. Demulcent, expectorant and flavouring agent. The powdered root is extensively employed as a pill excipient and the fluid extract to disquise the taste of nauseus preparations. Most of the licorice imported is used by the tobacco manufacturers in the flavouring of tobacco. Preparations: Glycyrrhiza extract, Glycyrrhiza syrup, elixir. Glycyrram is used for the treatment of bronchial asthma and kidney disorders. Glycyrrhinol used for trichomonadal colpitis. At bronchial asthma, allergy dermatitis, other allergic condition

Mineralcorticoid effects: Licorice inhibits the enzyme 1l-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the kidney, which leads to decreased transformation of cortisol into cortisone.The mineralocorticoid action of Cortisol causes a decrease in serum potassium and an increase in serum sodium concentration resulting in retention of water, causing weight increase and hypertension. Glyclrrhetic acid, the hydrolpic metabolite of glycerrhizic acid causes the inhibition of peripheral metabolism of cortisol and produces a pseudo-aldosterone like effect.

Araliae mandshuricae radices Aralia mandshurica- Manchurian aralia Araliaceae Constituents. Volatile oil (0.33%); a glycosidal saponin called aralin; resin (3%), starch, tannin, pectin, sugar, etc. Uses. Stimulant and diaphoretic. Preparations: tincture and saparal (tablets) are used to treat nervous disorders, hypotension and depression. It is a component of the antidiabetic herbal composition ‘Arfazetin’

Asthenic neurotic symptoms, physical fatigue and mental fatigue, impotence, hypotension

Orthosiphonis folia, EuPh Orthosiphon stamineus- Java tea Lamiaceae Content : minimum 0.05 per cent of sinensetin (C20H20O7 ; Mr 372.4) (dried drug). IDENTIFICATION A. The leaves are friable, up to 7.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width. The petiole is short. The lamina is oval to lanceolate, the apex acuminate and the base cuneate. The abaxial surface of the leaves is light greyish-green and the adaxial surface is dark green to brownish-green. The venation is pinnate with few secondary veins. Examined under a lens (x 10), the secondary veins, after running parallel to the midrib, diverge at an acute angle. The margin is irregularly and roughly dentate, sometimes crenate and the abaxial surface is slightly curved. The petioles are thin, quadrangular, 4 mm to 8 mm long and, like the primary venation, usually violet-coloured. Occasionally, inflorescences in clusters of bluish-white to violet flowers, not yet opened, are found.

B. The powder shows fragments of epidermis, with cells with sinuous outlines bearing unicellular or bicellular conical covering trichomes and articulated uniseriate trichomes up to 450 μm long, consisting of 3 to 8 cells with thick pitted walls ; capitate trichomes with unicellular or bicellular heads; secretory trichomes with unicellular stalks and usually tetracellular heads; diacytic stomata (2.8.3), which are more numerous on the lower epidermis.

C. Thin-layer chromatography (2.2.27). Reference solution. Dissolve 1 mg of sinensetin R in methanol R and dilute to 20 ml with the same solvent ASSAY Liquid chromatography (2.2.29). Constituents. Leaves contain triterpene spononins- α-amyrin derivatives, ursolic acid, flavonoids, ether oil, organic acids. Diterpenes: numerous closely related pimarane-type diterpenes, including orthosiphonones A and B, orthosiphols A, B, E to I, M, N, P, R, S, T, stiminol A neo-orthosiphols A and B, neo-orthosiphone A;

Essential oils: 0.02-0.7 % of various compounds: including belemene, p-caryophyllene, o-humulene, palmitic acid. Flavonoids: sinensetin, tetramethylscutellarein. eupatorin, salvigenin, trimethylapigenin. Phenylpropanoids: rosmarinic acid (major), caffeoyl tarlrate, dicaffeoyltartrate, four caffeic acid depsides. Uses. Java Tea has been shown in human and animal tests to be a mild diuretic. The essential oil of the drug, which contains sesquiterpenes, is antimicrobial, antiphlogistic and possibly antitumoral. It is used for infections of the urinary tract, kidney and bladder stones

Ginseng radices - Ginseng root, EuPh Ginseng- Panax ginseng Araliaceae Five-fingers, Red berry, American ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Oriental ginseng Definition Whole or cut dried root, designated white ginseng; treated with steam and then dried, designated red ginseng, of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Content : minimum 0.40 per cent for the sum of ginsenosides Rg1 (C42H72O14,2H2O; Mr 837) and Rb1 (C54H92O23,3H2O; Mr 1163) (dried drug).

IDENTIFICATION A. The principal root is fusiform or cylindrical, sometimes branched, up to about 20 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter, and may be curved or markedly re-curved. The surface is pale yellow to cream in white ginseng, brownish-red in red ginseng and shows longitudinal ridges. Stem scars may be seen at the crown. The fracture is short. The transversely-cut surface shows a wide outer zone with scattered orange-red resin canals and a finely radiate inner region. The rootlet, numerous in the lower part of white ginseng, are normally absent in red ginseng.

B. Reduce to a powder (355) (2. 9. 12) B. Reduce to a powder (355) (2.9.12). The powder shows the following characters : abundant fragments of thin-walled parenchymatous cells and fragments of large secretory canals containing yellowish-brown resin, non-lignified tracheids and partially-lignified vessels with spiral or reticulate thickening, isolated or in groups; scattered cluster crystals of calcium oxalate. The starch granules are very abundant, simple or 2 or 3 compound, and range from 1 μm to 10 μm in diameter. In red ginseng the starch granules are often deformed and destroyed by treating with steam, or may be absent. C. Thin-layer chromatography (2.2.27). Reference solution. Dissolve 5.0 mg of aescin R and 5.0 mg of arbutin R in 1 ml of methanol R.

TESTS Panax quinquefolium. Examine the chromatograms obtained in the assay. The chromatogram obtained with the test solution shows a peak due to ginsenoside Rf (see Figure 1523.-1). In the case of a substitution by Panax quinquefolium no peak due to ginsenoside Rf is present.

Loss on drying (2. 2. 32) : maximum 10. 0 per cent, determined on 1 Loss on drying (2.2.32) : maximum 10.0 per cent, determined on 1.000 g of the powdered drug (355) (2.9.12) by drying in an oven at 105 °C. ASSAY Liquid chromatography Reference solution. Dissolve 3.0 mg of ginsenoside Rg1 R, 3.0 mg of ginsenoside Re R, 3.0 mg of ginsenoside Rf R and 3.0 mg of ginsenoside Rb1 R in methanol R and dilute to 10.0 ml with the same solvent.

Constituents. Ginseng contains a complex mixture of triterpenoid saponins, these glycosides have been categorised into 3 series- the panaxosides, the ginsenosides. One or more of these groups of glycosides appear to account for the biologic properties of ginseng. It also contains volatile oils, resin, a phytosterin, mucilage, sugar, starch, etc. Uses. Ginseng is used by the laity as a stimulant and aromatic bitter. The Chinese also employ it as an aphrodisiac and heart tonic but without scientific justification. Ginseng is a favourite remedy in Chinese medicine and is considered to have tonic, stimulant, diuretic and carminative properties. It reportedly reduces the blood glucose concentration and acts favourably on metabolism, the central nervous system, and endocrine secretions. It is employed in the Orient in the treatment of anaemia, diabetes, insomnia, neurasthenia, gastritis and especially sexual impotence. Medicines- tincture, fluid extract, yokhimbe-extract and others.

Erectile dysfunction and low libido Adaptogenic and tonic tool is used at hipotention, fatigue, neurasthenia . Panaxadiol Erectile dysfunction and low libido

Astragali dasyanthi herba Astragalus dasyanthus- Milk vetch Fabaceae Constituents. Herb contains flavonoids (mainly quercetin), triterpenic glycosides and tannins. Uses. Water infusion is used for treatment of hypertension, cardiovascular insufficiency, chronic nephritis.

Uses. Analogically to radix Ginseng. Echinopanacis rhizomata cum radicibus Oplopanax elatus- Devil’s club, wolfberry Araliaceae Constituents. Triterpenoid saponins called echinoxosides (up to 7%), volatile oils, flavonoids, alkaloids. Uses. Analogically to radix Ginseng.

Hippocastani semina Hippocastani folia Aesculus hippocastanum Hippocastanaceae Horse chestnut Constituents. Seeds contain many triterpenoid saponins which come under the name aescin. General content of saponins is 3-13%. Also contain hydroxycoumarins; the chief component is aesculin, in adion fraxin and scopolin, scopoletin; flavonoids: including rutin, quercitrin, and isoquercitrin; tannins.

Uses. Traditionally, horse-chestnut has been used for the treatment of varicose veins, haemorrhoids, phlebitis, diarrhoea, fever and enlargement of the prostate gland. The German Commrssion E approved use for treatment of chronic venous insufficiency in the legs. As found in different animal tests and preclincal investigations, the principal ingredient of Horse Chestnut seed extract, triterpene glycoside mixture (aescin) has an anti-exudative, vascular tightening effect, and reduction of vascular permeability, which result in an antieodemic effect. The yein-toning properties of the Horse Chestnut extract also demonstrated improvement ofvenous return flow. Treatment of symptoms found in pathological conditions ofthe veins ofthe legs (chronic venous insufficiency), for example, pain and a sensation of heaviness in the legs, nocturnal cramps in the calves, pruritis and welling of the legs. Drugs are Venostasin, Retardkapseln, Noricaven, Rexiluven, Aescusan, Hoevenol, etc. Homoeopathic treatments include haemorrhoids, lumbar and low back pain, venous back pressure.

Calendulae flores , EuPh Calendula officinalis L Calendulae flores , EuPh Calendula officinalis L. Pot Marigold or Scotch Marigold Asteraceae Content : minimum 0.4 per cent of flavonoids, expressed as hyperoside (C21H20O12 ; Mr 464.4) (dried drug). IDENTIFICATION A. The ligulate florets consist of a yellow or orange-yellow ligule, about 3-5 mm wide and about 7 mm in the middle part, with a 3-toothed apex and a hairy, partly sickle-shaped, yellowish-brown or orange-brown tube with a projecting style and a bifid stigma occasionally with a partly bent yellowish-brown or orange-brown ovary. The tubular florets, about 5 mm long, are present and consist of the yellow, orange-red or reddish-violet 5-lobed corolla and the yellowish-brown or orange-brown tube, hairy in its lower part, mostly with a partly bent yellowish-brown or orange-brown ovary.

B. Examine under a microscope using chloral hydrate solution R B. Examine under a microscope using chloral hydrate solution R. The powder shows : fragments of the corollas containing light yellow oil droplets. A and B. Epidermis of the corolla G. Fragment of the stigma C. Epidermis at the apex of the corolla showing anomocytic stomata H. Covering trichome (usually only fragments observed) D. Fragments of vessel tissue attached to parenchyma cells containing cluster crystals of calcium oxalate J. Cells from the base of the corolla and glandular trichomes E and F. Pollen grains K. Glandular trichome

C. Thin-layer chromatography Reference solution. Dissolve 1.0mg of caffeic acid R, 1.0 mg of chlorogenic acid R and 2.5 mg of rutin R in 10 ml of methanol R. TESTS Foreign matter (2.8.2) : maximum 5 per cent of bracts and maximum 2 per cent of other foreign matter. Loss on drying (2.2.32) : maximum 12.0 per cent, etermined on 1.000 g of the powdered drug (500) (2.9.12) by drying in an oven at 105 °C for 2 h. Total ash (2.4.16) : maximum 10.0 per cent. ASSAY Calculate the percentage content of flavonoids, expressed as hyperoside.

Chemical constituents Chemical constituents. Flowers contain triterpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids (up to 0.03%), ether oils, ascorbic acid, phenol acids, sterols and sesquiterpenoids lactones of bitter taste (calendine). Triterpenoid saponins belong to derivatives of oleanolic acid- calendulosides A and B. Medicines. Infusion, tincture, ointment “Calendula”. “Caleflon” (purified extract) used for treatment of mouth ulcers, “Carofilen” has anti-inflammation activity.

Application. Marigold is used for the treatment of skin disorders and pain, also as bactericide, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. The petals and pollen contain triterpenoid esters (anti-inflammatory action) and the carotenoids (antioxidants and the source of yellow-orange coloration). Calendulosides reduce cholesterol level in blood. Plant extracts are also widely used by cosmetics, presumably due to presence of compounds such as saponins, resins and essential oils.

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