Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Commercially
available herbal mixture FE, a proprietary natural health product
manufactured by Flora Manufacturing and Distributing Ltd (Flora), is a
unique North American traditional herbal product. FE is a chemically
complex mixture of eight herbs and has not been subjected to
phytochemical analysis.
OBJECTIVE:
To
develop analytical methods to undertake detailed phytochemical analyses
of FE, and its eight contributing herbs, including burdock (Arctium
lappa L.), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), Turkish rhubarb (Rheum
palmatum L.), slippery elm Muhl. (Ulmus rubra),
watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.), red clover (Trifolium
pratense L.), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus L.) and kelp (Laminaria
digitata Lmx.).
METHODOLOGY:
The
identification was undertaken by a combination of reversed phase high
performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-atmospheric
pressure chemical ionisation-mass selective detection
(RP-HPLC-DAD-APCI-MSD) analysis and phenolics metabolomic library
matching.
RESULTS:
New
separation methods facilitated the identification of 43 markers in the
individual herbs which constitute FE. Sixteen markers could be
identified in FE originating from four contributing herbs including four
caffeoyl quinic acids, three dicaffeoyl quinic acids and two caffeic
acid derivatives from A. lappa, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin, five
apigenin glycosides and apigenin from R. acetocella and N. officinale
and sissostrin from T. pretense. A validated method for quantitative
determination of three markers is reported with good intraday, interday
and interoperator repeatability using a reliable alcohol based
extraction technique.
CONCLUSION:
FE
and its contributing herbs predominantly contain phenolics. This
methodology can be applied to further develop full-scale validation of
this product.
