Analysis of carbohydrates in Saponaria officinalis L. using GC/MS method

Saponaria officinalis L. (common soapwort), usually named fuller’s herb, is encountered in most of Europe, in Spain, France, Italy, for example, and also in Syria and North Africa. Saponaria officinalis L. is known in most of the world as an introduced species, often a weed, and sometimes as cultivated decorative plant. Saponaria officinalis contains a large amount of saponins, which foam during extraction with water. In addition to saponins, common soapwort also contains flavonoids, quillaic acid, fatty acids and different phenolic compounds. There is a lack of information about carbohydrates content of common soapwort. Thus the aim of this study was to determine the content of carbohydrates Saponaria officinalis L. herb and roots. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of carbohydrates in herb and roots of Saponaria officinalis L. were determined by using GC/MS method. The studies have shown that Saponaria officinalis L. herb is mainly composed of free carbohydrates such as D-glucose (3.65 mg/g), D-galactose (0.29 mg/g), D-fructose (0.20 mg/g) and D-saccharose (3.72 mg/g). In common soapwort herb, after acidic hydrolysis and derivatization with acetylated aldononitriles, D-arabinose, D-fucose, D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-fructose and Myo-inositol were identified. Free carbohydrates in the roots of Saponaria officinalis L., including D-glucose, D-galactose and D-saccharose, were determined with GC/MS method too. D-saccharose was common among free carbohydrates of Saponaria officinalis L. in the largest amounts. Its content in herb and roots of the common soapwort was 3.72 mg/g and 25.39 mg/g respectively.

Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Obtained from Chemical versus Saponaria officinalis Extract-Mediated Synthesis

In the present work, the properties of ZnO nanoparticles obtained using an eco-friendly synthesis (biomediated methods in microwave irradiation) were studied. Saponaria officinalis extracts were used as both reducing and capping agents in the green nanochemistry synthesis of ZnO. Inorganic zinc oxide nanopowders were successfully prepared by a modified hydrothermal method and plant extract-mediated method. The influence of microwave irradiation was studied in both cases. The size, composition, crystallinity and morphology of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM-EDX microscopy. Tunings of the nanochemistry reaction conditions (Zn precursor, structuring agent), ZnO NPs with various shapes were obtained, from quasi-spherical to flower-like. The optical properties and photocatalytic activity (degradation of methylene blue as model compound) were also investigated. ZnO nanopowders’ antibacterial activity was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains to evidence the influence of the vegetal extract-mediated synthesis on the biological activity.

Determination of composition of fatty acids in Saponaria officinalis L.

Treatment using medicinal plants with a long history of use is of interest to our society. These plants include Saponaria officinalis L., as well commonly known as common soapwort belongs to the family Caryophyllaceae. The herb and roots of this plant used as a blood purifier, an expectorant in bronchitis, diaphoretic and diuretic, for skin diseases, to increase bile flow. The plant contains various secondary metabolites, but there is no information on the fatty acids composition of Saponaria officinalis L. herb and roots. The aim. The aim of the present study was to determine the qualitative composition and quantitative content of fatty acids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method (GC/MS) in Saponaria officinalis L. herb and roots. Materials and methods. The determination of fatty acids composition of Saponaria officinalis L. herb and roots were carried out by gas chromatograph Agilent 6890N (Agilent Technologies, USA). Results. The research of Saponaria officinalis L. herb showed a mixture of unsaturated (1.9 mg/g) and saturated (1.27 mg/g) fatty acids. The main components of this raw material were linolenic (1.15 mg/g), linoleic (0.75 mg/g) and heneicosylic (0.38 mg/g) acids. The main components of this raw material were palmitic (0.38 mg/g), linoleic (0.16 mg/g) and linolenic (0.09 mg/g) acids. Conclusions. As a result of Saponaria officinalis L. study, the presence of fatty acids is established in herb and roots. Using the GC/MS method determined the qualitative composition and quantitative content of fatty acids in study raw material. Twelve fatty acids were determined in the herb of Saponaria officinalis L. The dominant fatty acids in the studied raw material were linolenic and linoleic acids, their content was 1.15 mg/g and 0.75 mg/g, respectively. Nine fatty acids were determined in the Saponaria officinalis L. roots. The palmitic acid prevailed among fatty acids, it is content was 0.38 mg/g. Our findings suggest that Saponaria officinalis L. is a promising plant because of the important role of fatty acids in different biological processes

Evaluation of spermicidal activity of saponosides from Saponaria officinalis / Caryophyllaceae, Glycyrrhizia glabra / Fabaceae and Herniaria glabra / Caryophyllaceae

Background and objective. Chemical spermicides currently marketed and widely used are known to have many side effects. Thereby, and in order to look for more tolerated natural spermicidal agents, the aim of this work was to evaluate the spermicidal potential of saponin extracts from the roots of Saponaria officinalis / Caryophyllaceae, Glycyrrhizia glabra / Fabaceae, and Herniaria glabra / Caryophyllaceae by studying their in vitro effects on sperm mobility and vitality. Methods. Methanolic saponin extracts from the plants roots were performed. Sperm suspensions were prepared by centrifugation on a PureSperm® density gradient (70 and 45%) and incubated with various concentrations of saponin extracts (50, 250, 500 and 750 mg/mL) at 37°C. The spermicidal activity was evaluated by studying the mobility and vitality of spermatozoa at different time intervals ranging from 10 to 240 minutes. Results. A dose and time dependent effect on sperm mobility and vitality was observed for our extracts. Extracts from Saponaria officinalis roots induced an irreversible immobilization and a total non-viability of sperm within 10 minutes at a concentration of 750 mg/mL. A similar effect was observed within 30 minutes at 750 mg/mL for Herniaria glabra extract and within 90 minutes at 500 mg/ml for Glycyrrhizia glabra extract. Conclusion. The results of our study showed that the saponin extracts of our plants roots possess potent in vitro dose and time dependant spermicidal effect. These natural products could therefore represent a safer and better tolerated alternative to chemical spermicides.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ОРГАНІЧНИХ КИСЛОТ У ТРАВІ ТА ПІДЗЕМНИХ ОРГАНАХ SAPONARIA OFFICINALIS L.

Вступ. Мильнянка лікарська (Saponaria officinalis L.) – багаторічна трав’яниста рослина, представник родини гвоздикові (Caryophyllaceae). Вона поширена по всій території Європи, у Північній Африці та на заході до Середньої Азії, але на даний час також культивується в багатьох країнах світу. В Saponaria officinalis L. спостерігають високий рівень сапонінів, також рослина містить флавоноїди, квайлову кислоту, жирні кислоти та різні фенольні сполуки. У джерелах літератури є інформація про протигрибкову активність сапонінової фракції мильнянки лікарської проти Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici й Fusarium culmorum та її антимікробні властивості. Відомостей про хімічний склад первинних метаболітів, а саме органічних кислот, у траві та підземних органах Saponaria officinalis L. у доступній літературі не знайдено, хоча ці речовини є одними з важливих класів природних сполук і мають широкий спектр біологічної та фармакологічної дій. Мета дослідження – виявити і визначити методом високоефективної рідинної хроматографії (ВЕРХ) кількісний вміст окремих компонентів органічних кислот у траві та кореневищах мильнянки лікарської. Методи дослідження. Кількісний вміст органічних кислот визначали методом ВЕРХ на рідинному хроматографі Agilent 1200 (Agilent Technologies, США). Результати й обговорення. Методом ВЕРХ у траві мильнянки лікарської ідентифіковано та визначено кількісний вміст винної, піровиноградної, ізолимонної, бурштинової і фумарової кислот, у підземних органах – піровиноградної, ізолимонної, лимонної, бурштинової та фумарової. Серед органічних кислот у траві рослини домінували ізолимонна та піровиноградна кислоти, вміст яких становив 120,83 і 25,14 мг/г відповідно. У підземних органах Saponaria officinalis L. в найбільшій кількості було визначено бурштинову кислоту (0,79 мг/г). Висновки. Уперше методом ВЕРХ досліджено якісний склад та кількісний вміст органічних кислот у мильнянці лікарській. Встановлено, що трава і підземні органи досліджуваної рослини містять винну, піровиноградну, ізолимонну, лимонну, фумарову та бурштинову кислоти. Серед органічних кислот у траві мильнянки лікарської домінувала ізолимонна кислота, вміст якої становив 120,83 мг/г. У кореневищах досліджуваного об’єкта переважала бурштинова кислота (0,79 мг/г). Отримані результати свідчать про перспективність подальших поглиблених фітохімічних досліджень біологічно активних речовин мильнянки лікарської (Saponaria officinalis L.).

Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Saponaria officinalis L.: A review

Saponaria officinalis is an important medicinal plant cultivated in different parts of the globe for its beautiful flowers. Species is commonly known as soapwort. Central Europe is considered as native place for the species and has been introduced in Northern Asia, West Asia, Northern Europe and America. Plant of the species are perennial, stem erect, branched, leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, inflorescence dense cymes, calyx green or reddish, often cleft, petals pink to white, fruit capsules, seeds tuberculate-reniform and numerous per fruit. Indigenous people of different parts of the world use this species to cure various ailments. Traditionally roots of the species have been used as urine remover. It is also used for cough, bronchitis, stomach disorders, bone deformations, rheumatism, pimples, skin diseases, bile disorders, liver problems and respiratory system diseases. The leaves were rubbed on the skin as a repellent and also used as sanitizer, diuretic and in liver diseases. Saporins are ribosome inhibitory proteins and play important role for anticancer properties. Different types of saponins are synthesized by the species exhibit anticancer, antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant properties. The present review is focused on the traditional medicinal uses of species along with phytochemical and pharmacological studies. This review will provide a ground for future research of the species.

Saporin from Saponaria officinalis as a Tool for Experimental Research, Modeling, and Therapy in Neuroscience

Saporin, which is extracted from Saponaria officinalis, is a protein toxin that inactivates ribosomes. Saporin itself is non-selective toxin but acquires high specificity after conjugation with different ligands such as signaling peptides or antibodies to some surface proteins expressed in a chosen cell subpopulation. The saporin-based conjugated toxins were widely adopted in neuroscience as a convenient tool to induce highly selective degeneration of desired cell subpopulation. Induction of selective cell death is one of approaches used to model neurodegenerative diseases, study functions of certain cell subpopulations in the brain, and therapy. Here, we review studies where saporin-based conjugates were used to analyze cell mechanisms of sleep, general anesthesia, epilepsy, pain, and development of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Limitations and future perspectives of use of saporin-based toxins in neuroscience are discussed.