This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81973493); National Interdisciplinary Innovation Team of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZYYCXTD-D-202209); Sanajon Pharmaceutical Group Chengdu University of TCM production, study, and Research Joint Laboratory Project (2019-YF04-00086-JH); and Sichuan Province Science and Technology Plan Funded Project (2021YFN0100). The authors thank the Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy of Chengdu University of TCM for its technical support in the mass spectrometry work.

1. Extract preparation
<ol>
	<li>Accurately weigh an appropriate amount of PE, and add 10x (weight) of deionized water for reflux extraction.</li>
	<li>Set five samples for reflux extraction for 0 h (E1), 0.5 h (E2), 1 h (E3), 1.5 h (E4), and 2 h (E5) after weighing.</li>
	<li>After extraction, cool the samples to room temperature, and weigh to make up for the lost weight to ensure consistency with the pre-extraction weights.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the samples at 8,581 &#215; g for 10 min to ensure the removal of insoluble material and herbal residues from the sample solution.</li>
	<li>Use a pipette to add 20 mL of sample solution into the sample bottle to ensure that the solution added each time is at the same height. 
	&#8203;NOTE: Avoid contamination, such as fingerprints, on the scanning part of the sample bottle, ensure that the sample bottle is clean, and check whether there are visible scratches on the bottle surface. When adding the sample solution, be careful not to spill or splash on the sample bottle, and ensure that the liquid level is at the same height in each bottle.</li>
</ol>
2. Instrument operation
<ol>
	<li>Turn on the MLS detection instrument, and warm it up for 30 min.</li>
	<li>Click on the Create file button in the top menu (or click on the File | New file function) to create a new test file.</li>
	<li>Click on the Show Turbiscan Lab Temperature button in the top menu to set the instrument target temperature to 25 &#176;C. 
	NOTE: The set temperature of the instrument must be higher than the room temperature; otherwise, the sample temperature will be affected by the room temperature.</li>
	<li>Click on Program Scan in the top menu to enter the setup analysis program. Add the program to the list, and in the taskbar, add 5 min as a cycle, scan for 48 h to the analysis sequence, and set the balance time to 20 min. Select this analysis program for all the subsequent measurements.</li>
	<li>Move the prepared sample bottle into the MLS detection system. After setting up the program, click on Start to start the measurement. 
	&#8203;NOTE: Be careful not to shake the glass bottle when loading the sample. The measurement can only be started after the sample temperature and setting temperature are balanced.</li>
</ol>
3. Multiple light scattering analysis program setting
<ol>
	<li>After the data collection, click on the calculation parameters list to set the optical parameters to calculate the stability index (SI), particle size, and particle migration speed.</li>
	<li>Set the optical parameters as follows: the continuous phase light transmission intensity (T0) as 99.99% (water), the dispersed phase refractive index (np) as 1.36, and the continuous phase refractive index (nf) as 1.33.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Huang, H. -. Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exploration+on+the+approaches+of+diverse+sedimentations+in+polyphenol+solutions:+An+integrated+chain+of+evidence+based+on+the+physical+phase,+chemical+profile,+and+sediment+elements.">Exploration on the approaches of diverse sedimentations in polyphenol solutions: An integrated chain of evidence based on the physical phase, chemical profile, and sediment elements.</a> Frontiers in Pharmacology. 10, 1060 (2019).</li><li>Ran, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+or+low+temperature+extraction,+which+is+more+conducive+to+Triphala+against+chronic+pharyngitis.">High or low temperature extraction, which is more conducive to Triphala against chronic pharyngitis.</a> Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. 140, 111787 (2021).</li><li>Wei, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hepatoprotective+effects+of+different+extracts+from+Triphala+against+CCl(4)-induced+acute+liver+injury+in+mice.">Hepatoprotective effects of different extracts from Triphala against CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury in mice.</a> Frontiers in Pharmacology. 12, 664607 (2021).</li><li>Huang, H. Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Study+on+the+stability+control+strategy+of+Triphala+solution+based+on+the+balance+of+physical+stability+and+chemical+stabilities.">Study on the stability control strategy of Triphala solution based on the balance of physical stability and chemical stabilities.</a> Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 158, 247-256 (2018).</li><li>Bhattacharya, A., Chatterjee, A., Ghosal, S., Bhattacharya, S. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antioxidant+activity+of+active+tannoid+principles+of+Emblica+officinalis+(amla).">Antioxidant activity of active tannoid principles of Emblica officinalis (amla).</a> Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 37 (7), 676-680 (1999).</li><li>Chao, P. C., Hsu, C. C., Yin, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anti-inflammatory+and+anti-coagulatory+activities+of+caffeic+acid+and+ellagic+acid+in+cardiac+tissue+of+diabetic+mice.">Anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulatory activities of caffeic acid and ellagic acid in cardiac tissue of diabetic mice.</a> Nutrition and Metabolism. 6, 33 (2009).</li><li>Tiwari, V., Kuhad, A., Chopra, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Emblica+officinalis+corrects+functional,+biochemical+and+molecular+deficits+in+experimental+diabetic+neuropathy+by+targeting+the+oxido-nitrosative+stress+mediated+inflammatory+cascade.">Emblica officinalis corrects functional, biochemical and molecular deficits in experimental diabetic neuropathy by targeting the oxido-nitrosative stress mediated inflammatory cascade.</a> Phytotherapy Research. 25 (10), 1527-1536 (2011).</li><li>Baliga, M. S., Dsouza, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amla+(Emblica+officinalis+Gaertn),+a+wonder+berry+in+the+treatment+and+prevention+of+cancer.">Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), a wonder berry in the treatment and prevention of cancer.</a> European Journal of Cancer Prevention. 20 (3), 225-239 (2011).</li><li>Rehman, H. -. u., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Studies+on+the+chemical+constituents+of+Phyllanthus+emblica.">Studies on the chemical constituents of Phyllanthus emblica.</a> Natural Product Research. 21 (9), 775-781 (2007).</li><li>Jang, Y., Koh, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterisation+and+storage+stability+of+aronia+anthocyanins+encapsulated+with+combinations+of+maltodextrin+with+carboxymethyl+cellulose,+gum+Arabic,+and+xanthan+gum.">Characterisation and storage stability of aronia anthocyanins encapsulated with combinations of maltodextrin with carboxymethyl cellulose, gum Arabic, and xanthan gum.</a> Food Chemistry. 405, 135002 (2022).</li><li>Fu, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+phenylalanine-modified+magnetic+ferroferric+oxide+nanoparticles+for+ciprofloxacin+removal+from+aqueous+solution).">Novel phenylalanine-modified magnetic ferroferric oxide nanoparticles for ciprofloxacin removal from aqueous solution).</a> Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 632, 345-356 (2023).</li><li>Jiang, T., Charcosset, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Encapsulation+of+curcumin+within+oil-in-water+emulsions+prepared+by+premix+membrane+emulsification:+Impact+of+droplet+size+and+carrier+oil+on+the+chemical+stability+of+curcumin.">Encapsulation of curcumin within oil-in-water emulsions prepared by premix membrane emulsification: Impact of droplet size and carrier oil on the chemical stability of curcumin.</a> Food Research International. 157, 111475 (2022).</li></ol>

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

The rapid and accurate assessment of TCM stability has always been a focus of TCM research. To provide more useful information for directing the improvement of the extraction process, this study analyzed the stability and instability mechanisms of a sample using a near-infrared non-destructive technology.
In this protocol, the important stability parameters are calculated based on accurate MLS scan data. MLS scans can collect the transmission (T%) and backscattering (BS%) of ...

An erratum was issued for:&#160;<a href="https://www.jove.com/t/65130">Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods</a>. The Authors section was updated from:
Haozhou Huang1 
Mengqi Li2 
Chuanhong Luo3 
Sanhu Fan4 
Taigang Mo4 
Li Han3 
Dingkun Zhang3 
Junzhi Lin5 
1Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy/Academy for Interdiscipline, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
2Sichuan Nursing Vocational College 
3School of Pharmacy/School of Modern Chinese Medicine Industry, State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China 
4Sanajon Pharmaceutical Group 
5TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
to
Haozhou Huang1,2 
Mengqi Li3 
Chuanhong Luo4 
Sanhu Fan5 
Taigang Mo5 
Li Han4 
Dingkun Zhang4 
Junzhi Lin6 
1State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy/Academy for Interdiscipline, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
2Meishan Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
3Sichuan Nursing Vocational College 
4State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
5Sanajon Pharmaceutical Group 
6TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

An erratum was issued for:&#160;<a href="https://www.jove.com/t/65130">Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods</a>. The Authors section was updated.

Erratum: Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods

In the manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the stability of the TCM extraction intermediates and related liquid preparations has always been the focus of inspection1. The clinical efficacy of medicinal products, especially with polyphenols as the primary active ingredient, suffers due to significant stability issues2,3. Sanajon oral liquid and Nuodikang oral liquid are examples of typical cases of this issue4. Therefore, it is crucial to learn how to use efficient tools to rapidly and accurately evaluate and optimize the stability of liquid intermediates in the TCM production process. Phyllanthus emblica L. (PE), a widespread medicinal plant in Southeast Asia, is thought to have good antioxidant properties5, as well as anti-inflammatory6, antibacterial7, and antitumor actions8. During the thermal extraction procedure, the tannins in PE transform violently9. Under catalysis with high temperatures, these tannins hydrolyze quickly to produce molecules such as gallic acid and ellagic acid, which lead to instability or precipitation due to their poor solubility1. Current methods for evaluating TCM stability, such as accelerated testing or centrifugation, are usually cumbersome4, which limits the further development of pertinent preparation processes.
Based on the principle of multiple light scattering (MLS), we established a fast stability evaluation method for PEF extracts and analyzed the instability mechanism. MLS is a measurement method based on the scanning of near-infrared light sources. Any solution system change results in a change in the light intensity. The incident light is scattered when it is absorbed or penetrated by the particles of the sample. The system records the transmission light signal when it passes through the sample; if the light transmittance of the sample is poor, the system records the backscattering light signal. Compared with visual observation, this can save a lot of time1 and can quickly and accurately analyze the instability phenomenon in detail, thus providing more useful information for guiding the optimization of the extraction process.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Adjustable electric heating jacket</td><td>Beijing Kewei Yongxing Instrument Co., Ltd</td><td>MH-1000&amp;nbsp;</td><td>www.keweiyq.com</td></tr><tr><td>Analytical balance(1/10000)</td><td>Sartorious, Germany</td><td>BSA224S&amp;nbsp;</td><td>www.sartorius.com.cn</td></tr><tr><td>CNC ultrasonic instrument</td><td>Kunshan Ultrasonic Instrument Co., Ltd</td><td>KQ-500DE</td><td>www.ks-csyq.com</td></tr><tr><td>GL-16 high-speed centrifuge</td><td>&amp;nbsp;Sichuan Shuke Instrument Co., Ltd</td><td>18091403</td><td>www.sklxj.com</td></tr><tr><td>Phyllanthus emblica L.</td><td>Hehuachi medicinal materials market</td><td>&amp;nbsp;YJL2004</td><td>Produced in Yunnan</td></tr><tr><td>Turbisoft Lab multiple light scattering instrument</td><td>French Formulaction Company</td><td>Turbisoft Lab 2.3.1.125 Fanalyser 1.3.5</td><td>www.formulaction.com</td></tr><tr><td>UPR-II-5T ultra-pure water device</td><td>Sichuan ULUPURE&amp;nbsp; Ultrapure Technology Co., Ltd</td><td>Z16030559</td><td>www.ccdup.com</td></tr></tbody></table>

using multiple light scattering to examine the stability of phyllanthus emblica l. extracts obtained with different extraction methods

The extraction intermediate of traditional Chinese medicine is the key intermediate in the preparation process, and its stability has an important impact on the effectiveness and quality of the final product. However, existing stability evaluation methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring long-term observation and the operation of complex equipment (such as high-performance liquid chromatography), and it is difficult to obtain more physical information about the instability of the system. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish a fast and accurate stability analysis technology for traditional Chinese medicine. Multiple light scattering is a cutting-edge analytical method that can accurately and rapidly evaluate the stability of traditional Chinese medicines in an environment-friendly manner without changing the nature or state of the sample or using organic reagents.
In this work, using the precise scanning data of multiple light scattering, the present protocol rapidly acquired the variation curves for layer thickness, particle migration speed, and average particle size over time. This enabled the precise identification of the mechanism and crucial characteristics causing the system&#39;s instability in its early stages. Of note, the research period for the extraction process can be considerably shortened by the detailed quantification of the system stability, which also allows for a quick, accurate, and in-depth analysis of the effects of various extraction processes on the stability of Phyllanthus emblica L.

Figure 1&#160;shows the principle of multiple light measurement and the meaning of the collected results. In the MLS spectra results (Figure 2), the abscissa was the height of the sample cell, and the ordinate was the transmission (T%) and backscattering (BS%) intensity. By calculating the MLS spectra results, the system can obtain the changes in the key physical parameters of the sample during the measurement period, including the delta transm...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods at JoVE.com

Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods

Here, we introduce a stability evaluation method based on multiple light scattering technology to evaluate the stability of traditional Chinese medicine extracts.

Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods

The extraction intermediate of traditional Chinese medicine is the key intermediate in the preparation process, and its stability has an important impact ...

using-multiple-light-scattering-to-examine-stability-phyllanthus

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

586 Views.  Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Stabiliteitsevaluatiemethoden zijn vaak tijdrovend en arbeidsintensief. Deze techniek kan ongeveer 200X tijd besparen en veel stabiliteitsparameters verzamelen voor Phyllanthus emblica L.extracten. Deze techniek kan het instabiliteitsfenomeen snel en nauwkeurig in detail analyseren, waardoor meer nuttige informatie wordt verstrekt voor het begeleiden van het optimisme van het extractieproces.Om te beginnen, weeg nauwkeurig een geschikte hoeveelheid Phyllanthus emblica L. en voeg gedeï...

Video: Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods

A Simple Fractionated Extraction Method for the Comprehensive Analysis of Metabolites, Lipids, and Proteins from a Single Sample

Understanding of complex biological systems requires the measurement, analysis and integration of multiple compound classes of the living cell, usually determined by transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomics and lipidomic measurements. In this protocol, we introduce a simple method for the reproducible extraction of metabolites, lipids and proteins from biological tissues using a single aliquot per sample. The extraction method is based on a methyl tert-butyl ether: methanol: water system for liquid: liquid partitioning of hydrophobic and polar metabolites into two immiscible phases along with the precipitation of proteins and other macromolecules as a solid pellet. This method, therefore, provides three different fractions of specific molecular composition, which are fully compatible with common high throughput 'omics' technologies such as liquid chromatography (LC) or gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometers. Even though the method was initially developed for the analysis of different plant tissue samples, it has proved to be fully compatible for the extraction and analysis of biological samples from systems as diverse as algae, insects, and mammalian tissues and cell cultures.

A protocol for comprehensive extraction of lipids, metabolites and proteins from biological tissues using one sample is presented.

Understanding of complex biological systems requires the measurement, analysis and integration of multiple compound classes of the living cell, usually ...

Biochemistry

A Lipid Extraction and Analysis Method for Characterizing Soil Microbes in Experiments with Many Samples

Microbial communities are important drivers and regulators of ecosystem processes. To understand how management of ecosystems may affect microbial communities, a relatively precise but effort-intensive technique to assay microbial community composition is phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. PLFA was developed to analyze phospholipid biomarkers, which can be used as indicators of microbial biomass and the composition of broad functional groups of fungi and bacteria. It has commonly been used to compare soils under alternative plant communities, ecology, and management regimes. The PLFA method has been shown to be sensitive to detecting shifts in microbial community composition.
An alternative method, fatty acid methyl ester extraction and analysis (MIDI-FA) was developed for rapid extraction of total lipids, without separation of the phospholipid fraction, from pure cultures as a microbial identification technique. This method is rapid but is less suited for soil samples because it lacks an initial step separating soil particles and begins instead with a saponification reaction that likely produces artifacts from the background organic matter in the soil. 
This article describes a method that increases throughput while balancing effort and accuracy for extraction of lipids from the cell membranes of microorganisms for use in characterizing both total lipids and the relative abundance of indicator lipids to determine soil microbial community structure in studies with many samples. The method combines the accuracy achieved through PLFA profiling by extracting and concentrating soil lipids as a first step, and a reduction in effort by saponifying the organic material extracted and processing with the MIDI-FA method as a second step.

The article describes a method that increases throughput while balancing effort and accuracy for extraction of lipids from the cell membranes of microorganisms for use in characterizing both total lipids and the relative abundance of indicator lipids to determine soil microbial community structure in studies with many samples.

Microbial communities are important drivers and regulators of ecosystem processes. To understand how management of ecosystems may affect microbial ...

Environment

Spectrophotometric Determination of Phycobiliprotein Content in Cyanobacterium Synechocystis

This is a simple protocol for the quantitative determination of phycobiliprotein content in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis. Phycobiliproteins are the most important components of phycobilisomes, the major light-harvesting antennae in cyanobacteria and several algae taxa. The phycobilisomes of Synechocystis contain two phycobiliproteins: phycocyanin and allophycocyanin. This protocol describes a simple, efficient, and reliable method for the quantitative determination of both phycocyanin and allophycocyanin in this model cyanobacterium. We compared several methods of phycobiliprotein extraction and spectrophotometric quantification. The extraction procedure as described in this protocol was also successfully applied to other cyanobacteria strains such as Cyanothece sp., Synechococcuselongatus, Spirulina sp., Arthrospira sp., and Nostoc sp., as well as to red algae Porphyridium cruentum. However, the extinction coefficients of specific phycobiliproteins from various taxa can differ and it is, therefore, recommended to validate the spectrophotometric quantification method for every single strain individually. The protocol requires little time and can be performed in any standard life science laboratory since it requires only standard equipment.

Spectrophotometric Determination of Phycobiliprotein Content in Cyanobacterium Synechocystis

Here, we present a protocol to quantitatively determine phycobiliprotein content in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis using a spectrophotometric method. The extraction procedure was also successfully applied to other cyanobacteria and algae strains; however, due to variations in pigment absorption spectra, it is necessary to test the spectrophotometric equations for each strain individually.

This is a simple protocol for the quantitative determination of phycobiliprotein content in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis. Phycobiliproteins are ...

Multi-step Preparation Technique to Recover Multiple Metabolite Compound Classes for In-depth and Informative Metabolomic Analysis

Metabolomics is an emerging field which enables profiling of samples from living organisms in order to obtain insight into biological processes. A vital aspect of metabolomics is sample preparation whereby inconsistent techniques generate unreliable results. This technique encompasses protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, and solid-phase extraction as a means of fractionating metabolites into four distinct classes.&#160;Improved enrichment of low abundance molecules with a resulting increase in sensitivity is obtained, and ultimately results in more confident identification of molecules. This technique has been applied to plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid samples with volumes as low as 50 &#181;l. &#160;Samples can be used for multiple downstream applications; for example, the pellet resulting from protein precipitation can be stored for later analysis. The supernatant from that step undergoes liquid-liquid extraction using water and strong organic solvent to separate the hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. Once fractionated, the hydrophilic layer can be processed for later analysis or discarded if not needed. The hydrophobic fraction is further treated with a series of solvents during three solid-phase extraction steps to separate it into fatty acids, neutral lipids, and phospholipids. This allows the technician the flexibility to choose which class of compounds is preferred for analysis. It also aids in more reliable metabolite identification since some knowledge of chemical class exists.

The reliability of results in metabolomics experiments depends on the effectiveness and reproducibility of the sample preparation. Described is a rigorous and in-depth method that enables extraction of metabolites from biological fluids with the option of subsequently analyzing up to thousands of compounds, or just the compound classes of interest.

Metabolomics is an emerging field which enables profiling of samples from living organisms in order to obtain insight into biological processes. A vital ...

Bioengineering

Employing Pressurized Hot Water Extraction (PHWE) to Explore Natural Products Chemistry in the Undergraduate Laboratory

A recently developed pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) method which utilizes an unmodified household espresso machine to facilitate natural products research has also found applications as an effective teaching tool. Specifically, this technique has been used to introduce second- and third-year undergraduates to aspects of natural products chemistry in the laboratory. In this report, two experiments are presented: the PHWE of eugenol and acetyleugenol from cloves and the PHWE of seselin and (+)-epoxysuberosin from the endemic Australian plant species Correa reflexa. By employing PHWE in these experiments, the crude clove extract, enriched in eugenol and acetyleugenol, was obtained in 4-9% w/w from cloves by second-year undergraduates and seselin and (+)-epoxysuberosin were isolated in yields of up to 1.1% w/w and 0.9% w/w from C. reflexa by third-year students. The former exercise was developed as a replacement for the traditional steam distillation experiment providing an introduction to extraction and separation techniques, while the latter activity featured guided-inquiry teaching methods in an effort to simulate natural products bioprospecting. This primarily derives from the rapid nature of this PHWE technique relative to traditional extraction methods that are often incompatible with the time constraints associated with undergraduate laboratory experiments. This rapid and practical PHWE method can be used to efficiently isolate various classes of organic molecules from a range of plant species. The complementary nature of this technique relative to more traditional methods has also been demonstrated previously.

Employing Pressurized Hot Water Extraction PHWE to Explore Natural Products Chemistry in the Undergraduate Laboratory

Here, we employ a pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) method, which utilizes an unmodified household espresso machine to introduce undergraduates to natural products chemistry in the laboratory. Two experiments are presented: PHWE of eugenol and acetyleugenol from cloves and PHWE of seselin and (+)-epoxysuberosin from the Australian plant Correa reflexa.

A recently developed pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) method which utilizes an unmodified household espresso machine to facilitate natural products ...

Chemistry

A Multi-Omics Extraction Method for the In-Depth Analysis of Synchronized Cultures of the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Microalgae have been the focus of research for their applications in the production of high value compounds, food and fuel. Moreover, they are valuable photosynthetic models facilitating the understanding of the basic cellular processes. System wide studies enable comprehensive and in-depth understanding of molecular functions of the organisms. However, multiple independent samples and protocols are required for proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics studies introducing higher error and variability. A robust high throughput extraction method for the simultaneous extraction of chlorophyll, lipids, metabolites, proteins and starch from a single sample of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is presented here. The illustrated experimental setup is for Chlamydomonas cultures synchronized using 12 h/12 h light/dark conditions. Samples were collected over a 24 h cell cycle to demonstrate that the metabolites, lipids and starch data obtained using various analytical platforms are well conformed. Furthermore, protein samples collected using the same extraction protocol were used to conduct detailed proteomics analysis to evaluate their quality and reproducibility. Based on the data, it can be inferred that the illustrated method provides a robust and reproducible approach to advance understanding of various biochemical pathways and their functions with greater confidence for both basic and applied research.

A Multi-Omics Extraction Method for the In-Depth Analysis of Synchronized Cultures of the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

System-wide analysis of multiple biomolecules is crucial to gain functional and mechanistic insights into biological processes. Hereby, an extensive protocol is described for high throughput extraction of lipids, metabolites, proteins and starch from a single sample harvested from synchronized Chlamydomonas culture.

Microalgae have been the focus of research for their applications in the production of high value compounds, food and fuel. Moreover, they are valuable ...

Developmental Biology

A Generalized Method for Determining Free Soluble Phenolic Acid Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Cereals and Legumes

Phenolic acids are a class of organic compounds that bear both a phenolic group, and a carboxylic group. They are found in grains and concentrate in the bran of cereals or seed coat of legumes. They possess antioxidant properties that have generated much research interest in recent years, about their potential antioxidant protective health functions. This work presents a generalized method for the extraction of free soluble phenolic acids from whole grains and analysis of their antioxidant capacity. Five whole grain samples comprising two cereals (wheat and yellow corn) and three legumes (cowpea bean, kidney bean, and soybean), were used. The grains were milled into flour and their free soluble phenolic acids extracted using aqueous methanol. The compounds were then identified using a high-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine their total phenolic content while their antioxidant capacities were determined using the DPPH radical scavenging capacity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. The phenolic acids identified included vanillic, caffeic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids. Vanillic acid was identified only in cowpea while caffeic acid was identified only in kidney bean. p-Coumaric acid was identified in yellow corn, cowpea, and soybean, while ferulic acid was identified in all the samples. Ferulic acid was the predominant phenolic acid identified. The total concentration of phenolic acids in the samples decreased in the following order: soybean &gt; cowpea bean &gt; yellow corn = kidney bean &gt; wheat. The total antioxidant capacity (sum of values of DPPH, TEAC and ORAC assays) decreased as follows: soybean &gt; kidney bean &gt; yellow corn = cowpea bean &gt; wheat. This study concluded that HPLC analysis as well as DPPH, TEAC, and ORAC assays provide useful information about the phenolic acid composition and antioxidant properties of whole grains.

Phenolic acids are important phytochemicals that are present in whole grains. They possess bioactive properties such as antioxidant protective functions. This work aimed at reporting on a generalized method for the HPLC identification, total phenolic content estimation, and determination of the antioxidant capacity of phenolic acids in cereals and legumes.

Phenolic acids are a class of organic compounds that bear both a phenolic group, and a carboxylic group. They are found in grains and concentrate in the ...

Polyol-Based Microwave-Assisted Extraction for Phenolic and Antioxidant Yields

Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidants for Cosmetic Applications Using Polyol-Based Technology

The utilization of polyols as green solvents for extracting bioactive compounds from plant materials has gained attention due to their safety and inert behavior with plant bioactive chemicals. This study explores the sustainable extraction of phenolic compounds and natural antioxidants from coffee silverskin using the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method with polyol-based solvents: glycerin, propylene glycol (PG), butylene glycol (BG), methylpropanediol (MPD), isopentyldiol (IPD), pentylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, and hexylene glycol (HG). A comparative analysis was conducted on conventional and non-conventional solvent extractions, focusing on their impact on the bioactive compounds of MAE, encompassing parameters such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities like the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (DPPH), the 2,2&#8242;-azino-bis(-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging assay (ABTS), and the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). The highest values were observed for TPC with aqueous-1,2-hexanediol extraction (52.0 &#177; 3.0 mg GAE/g sample), TFC with aqueous-1,2-hexanediol extraction (20.0 &#177; 1.7 mg QE/g sample), DPPH with aqueous-HG&#160;extraction (13.6 &#177; 0.3 mg TE/g sample), ABTS with aqueous-pentylene glycol extraction (8.2 &#177; 0.1 mg TE/g sample), and FRAP with aqueous-HG extraction (21.1 &#177; 1.3 mg Fe (II) E/g sample). This research aims to advance eco-friendly extraction technology through natural plant components, promoting sustainability by minimizing hazardous chemical use while reducing time and energy consumption, with potential applications in cosmetics.

Author Spotlight: Eco-Friendly Extraction of Bioactive Compounds Using Polyol-Based Microwave-Assisted Techniques

This protocol details the utilization of a polyol-based microwave-assisted extraction method for extracting phenolic compounds and natural antioxidants, representing a practical and environmentally sustainable approach to the development of ready-to-use extracts.

The utilization of polyols as green solvents for extracting bioactive compounds from plant materials has gained attention due to their safety and inert ...

Collection and Analysis of Arabidopsis Phloem Exudates Using the EDTA-facilitated Method

The plant phloem is essential for the long-distance transport of (photo-) assimilates as well as of signals conveying biotic or abiotic stress. It contains sugars, amino acids, proteins, RNA, lipids and other metabolites. While there is a large interest in understanding the composition and function of the phloem, the role of many of these molecules and thus, their importance in plant development and stress response has yet to be determined. One barrier to phloem analysis lies in the fact that the phloem seals itself upon wounding. As a result, the number of plants from which phloem sap can be obtained is limited. One method that allows collection of phloem exudates from several plant species without added equipment is the EDTA-facilitated phloem exudate collection described here. While it is easy to use, it does lead to the wounding of cells and care has to be taken to remove contents of damaged cells. In addition, several controls to prove purity of the exudate are necessary. Because it is an exudation rather than a direct collection of the phloem sap (not possible in many species) only relative quantification of its contents can occur. The advantage of this method over others is that it can be used in many herbaceous or woody plant species (Perilla, Arabidopsis, poplar, etc.) and requires minimal equipment and training. It leads to reasonably large amounts of exudates that can be used for subsequent analysis of proteins, sugars, lipids, RNA, viruses and metabolites. It is simple enough that it can be used in both a research as well as in a teaching laboratory.

Collection and Analysis of Arabidopsis Phloem Exudates Using the EDTA-facilitated Method

Knowledge of the composition of the phloem sap as well as the mechanism of its loading and long-distance transport is essential for the understanding of long-distance signaling in plant development and stress/pathogen response and of assimilate transport. This manuscript describes the collection of phloem exudates using the EDTA-facilitated method.

The plant phloem is essential for the long-distance transport of (photo-) assimilates as well as of signals conveying biotic or abiotic stress. It ...

Biology

Fast Inspection of Quality of Indigo Naturalis by Multiple Light Scattering

Quality control of Chinese herbal medicine is a crucial component of Chinese herbal medicine research and development. Faced with the challenges of modernization and internationalization of Chinese herbal medicine, it is urgent to establish thorough and effective procedures for quality identification of Chinese herbal medicine, and there is an urgent need for new analytical and testing techniques that are efficient, accurate, and environmentally friendly. 
Multiple light scattering is a cutting-edge and analytical method that can accurately and rapidly assess the quality of Chinese herbal medicine without altering the nature or state of the sample or using organic reagents. Indigo Naturalis is considered a good remedy for pediatric hyperthermia, psoriasis, leukemia, and ulcerative colitis. In this study, the process of addition of Indigo Naturalis powder in water was recorded precisely using a multiple light scattering instrument. 
The qualitative and quantitative measurements of the instrument can be used to accurately capture the overall trajectory and sinking behavior of Indigo Naturalis powder into water and to establish a rapid evaluation method for the quality of Indigo Naturalis with the transmission and backscattering spectrograms of the sample as qualitative indicators and stability index as a quantitative indicator. The analytical technique based on multiple light scattering provides a fast, accurate, green, and environmentally friendly method for the quality evaluation of Indigo Naturalis and supports the development and transformation of high-quality Indigo Naturalis.

Here, we present a quality evaluation method based on a multiple light scattering technique to evaluate the quality of Indigo Naturalis.

Quality control of Chinese herbal medicine is a crucial component of Chinese herbal medicine research and development. Faced with the challenges of ...

Using Multiple Light Scattering to Examine the Stability of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extracts Obtained with Different Extraction Methods

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