Isolation, Characterization of Active Constituent and Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Inula Racemosa Hook. F. Roots

Ayurvedic literature claims that Inula racemosa Hook. f. roots are beneficial for the liver. The study’s aim was to test the hepatoprotective effect of Inula racemosa Hook. f. roots ethanolic extract (IRE) against paracetamol (PCM) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Silymarin (100 mg/kg/day) was used for 7 days, then PCM was orally administered (3 g/kg b.wt.) on the eighth day. 24 hours after the last PCM dosing, blood was withdrawn from the retro-orbital plexus and later on the rats were sacrificed. Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Albumin (ALB), Total Protein (TP), liver weight and relative liver weight were determined. Histopathology of the liver was performed. In the study, IRE was found to have comparable protective effects against PCM-induced hepatotoxicity as Silymarin. Gallic acid was isolated for the first time from Inula racemosa Hook. f. roots. IRE exhibited a hepatoprotective effect because gallic acid was present in it.

A New Cytotoxic Dimeric Sesquiterpene Isolated from Inula racemosa Hook. f. (Root): In Vitro and In Silico Analyses

A new dimeric sesquiterpene named disesquicin (compound 1) was isolated from Inula racemosa roots by normal-phase MPLC (Medium Pressure Liquid Chromatography), and its structure was established by using extensive spectral analysis. Compound 1, when tested on different human cancer cell lines, showed marked cytotoxic activity (IC50 (µg/mL): 5.99 (MDA-MB), 9.10 (HeLa), and 12.47 (A549)). Docking study revealed that it binds at the catalytic domain of PLK-1 and interacts with catalytic site residues Leu59, Gly60, Lys61, Gly62, Cys67, Ala80, Lys82, Leu130, Arg136, Ser137, Leu139, Glu140, Lys178, Gly180, Asn181, Phe183, and Asp194. The binding of compound 1 to PLK-1 is spontaneous in nature as evident by a free energy of—8.930 kcal mol−1, corresponding to a binding affinity of 3.54 × 106 M−1. Results showed that compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic potential that was further confirmed by in vivo investigations.

RP-HPLC and HPTLC Methods for Analysis of Selected Herbs Used as Complexion Promoters in Ayurveda and Unani Systems of Medicine

Background: In Ayurvedic and Unani texts, many herbs and formulations are mentioned as complexion promoters having skin brightening and whitening effects that downregulate melanin synthesis. However, with the assistance of chromatographic techniques, further validation of scientific standardization is required. Objective: To validate individual herbs and formulations in the ancient literature, some scientific aspects are to be focused on, including standardization of herbs or herbal products consisting of the active compounds. Methods: Out of many herbs having complexion promoting properties, three herbs (Myristica fragrans, Hemidesmus indicus, and Inula racemosa) were selected for the study. In the present study, validated reverse phase (RP)-HPLC and high-performance TLC (HPTLC) methods were developed for standardization of the herbs. Results: It was observed that the quercetin present in M. fragrans was 0.62% (w/w) with a retention time (Rt) of 6.23 min, the ferulic acid present in H. indicus was 1.39% (w/w) with an Rt of 8.083 min, and the chlorogenic acid present in I. racemosa was 1.03% (w/w) with an Rt of 3.19 min. The HPTLC method showed 1.23% (w/w) of quercetin present in M. fragrans with a retardation factor (Rf) of 0.48, ferulic acid in H. indicus was 1.52% (w/w) with an Rf of 0.44, and chlorogenic acid was 1.09% (w/w) in I. racemosa with an Rf of 0.52. Conclusions: This specific and precise validated method can be useful for the quality evaluation and quantitative determination of the constituents in complexion-promoting herbs from Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine. Highlights: The exploration of complexion promoters from Ayurveda and Unani; quality evaluation of complexion promoters herbs from Ayurveda and Unani; HPTLC and RP-HPLC analysis of herbal extracts used and their validation.