Improving the quality and safety of Chinese medicinal herbs

By Dr Alison Halliday

Extracts from members of the Aconitum plant species are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for their purported anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. But these plants also contain toxic alkaloids that can cause heart and respiratory problems. The root of Panax ginseng is another popular and important herb in traditional Chinese medicine. Its major active ingredients are ginsenosides, which are claimed to provide anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties - along with other benefits such as boosting the immune system.

DEVELOPING A NEW METHOD SUITABLE FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT QUALITY CONTROL ANALYSES

In a new study, researchers in Taiwan developed a simple new technique that combines thin-layer chromatography with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (TLC-ESI/MS) - for characterising herbal compounds in a rapid analysis. To reduce the risk of introducing contaminants that could harm the integrity of the results of their sensitive analytical analyses, the team relied on water produced from an Elga Purelab Pulse laboratory water purification system.

TOXIC COMPOUNDS IDENTIFIED IN A MEDICINAL PRODUCT

The team successfully demonstrated the use of their new analytical technique by characterising the phytochemical compounds in two root extracts purchased from a local pharmacy for traditional Chinese medicines.

Of concern, they detected 16 highly toxic alkaloid compounds including aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine, as well as sugars in their A. carmichaelii Debx root extract. They also identified six major ginsenosides within their P. ginseng extract, reflecting its detailed chemical composition.

This new study demonstrates that their modified TLC-ESI/MS is a simple, rapid and useful technique for characterising both toxins and active ingredients within herbal extracts and could offer an improved method for quality control assessments, as well as distinguishing authentic from counterfeit products - helping to protect patients from harm.

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