Determination of contents of active components in commercial formulations of st. John’s wort and hawthorn

Abstract

The objective of this work are two very important medicinal plants: St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.; Hypericaceae and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.: C.monogyna Jacq. Crataegus oxyacantha L., Malaceae. and Crataegus summitates). These herbal drugs Hyperici herba and Crataegus summitates are used for various phytoformulations: Hyperici extractum siccum, Demak capsules, Crataegi extractum fluidum, siccum, Forticor solutio, Forticor capsules. The quality of mentioned commercial phytoformulations was studied on the basis of active components (hypericine and total flavonoides). Determination of active substances in row plant material and commercial phytoformulations was performed. Hypericine complex substances in a St. John’s wort are red coloured and thus the photometric determination make possible. Sample solutions obtained after the adequate few steps extraction procedure, previously optimized, were used for spctrophotometric determination. Absorbance of sample solutions was measured at l = 590 nm and obtained result calculated as hypericine content. European pharmcopoeia’s demand for minimum content is 0,08% of hypericine in Hyperici herba. In commercial products the content of hypericine in Hyperici herba ranging from 0,06 to 0,14% was recorded. For the determination of total flavonoides in hawthorn and its commercial formulations spectrophotometric method was applied (DAB 9). For preparing the sample solutions, appropriate techniques, such as destillation and extraction were used. All experimental conditions were carefully optimized. The principe of the method is the determination of the flavone derivates by forming the aluminium helate complex of their aglycones. Absorbance of the sample solutions was measured at l = 425 nm and obtained result calculated. Hypericine in Hyperici herba was in the range 0,06 - 0,14%. Pharmcopoeia’s demand for minimum content of total flavonoides in Crategi summitates is 0,7%, as hyperoside calculated. In commercial products the content of total flavonoides, ranging from 0,46 to 0,85% was established.

Predmet istraživanja u ovom radu su dve veoma važne, lekovite biljne vrste: kantarion Hypericum perforatum L.; Hypericaceae i glog Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Crataegus oxyacantha L., Malaceae. Ove dve biljne sirovine se koriste za pripremu različitih fitopreparata: Hyperici extractum siccum, (Demak kapsule), Crataegi extractum fluidum, extractum siccum, (Forticor solutio, Forticor kapsule). Ispitivan je kvalitet navedenih komercijalnih biljnih sirovina na osnovu određivanja sadržaja aktivnih materija hipericina i ukupnih flavonoida. Analize su obuhvatile određivanje sadržaja aktivne materije kako u biljnim sirovinama tako i u gotovim proizvodima. Supstance hipericinskog kompleksa u kantarionu odlikuju se crvenom obojenošću, što se koristi za direktno fotometrijsko određivanje. Za spektrofotometrijsko određivanje koriste se rastvori uzoraka dobijeni posle višefazne procedure ekstrakcije, u prethodno optimizovanim eksperimentalnim uslovima. Merenje apsorbancije se izvodi na l = 590 nm, a iz dobijenih rezultatat se izračunava sadržaj hipericina. Po propisu Evropske farmakopeje zahtev za minimum sadržaja u drogi Hyperici herba, za hipericin je 0,08%. U komercijalnim uzocima sadržaj se kretao od 0,06 do 0,14%. Određivanje ukupnih flavonoida u biljnoj sirovini gloga i preparatima gloga se vrši takođe spektrofotometrijskom metodom (DAB 9). Svi eksperimentalni uslovi su pažljivo optimizovani. Princip metode je fotometrijsko odeđivanje flavon derivata prevođenjem u Al helatni kompleks njegovih aglikona. Apsorbancija analiziranih rastvora se meri na l = 425 nm. Zahtev je da droga Crataegi summitates mora sadržavati minimum 0,7% ukupnih flavonoida, računatih kao hiperozid. U komercijalnim uzorcima sadržaj se kretao od 0,46 do 0,85%.