Investigation of the Purity of Ursolic Acid Dietary Supplements
Journal Title: European Journal of Medicinal Plants - Year 2016, Vol 17, Issue 2
Abstract
Aims: Ursolic acid (UA) is a phytochemical found in fruits and herbs such as apples, cherries, rosemary and thyme. A multitude of rodent studies have shown UA’s protective effects in cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to investigate if a high purity UA dietary supplement is available for use in future human studies. Place and Duration of Study: Theoretical weight studies were performed at the University of Texas at San Antonio while UA quantification studies were performed in the Metabolomics Laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio between January 2015 and July 2015. Methodology: Four oral UA supplements were analyzed for percent theoretical weight and UA concentration. UA supplement content was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) and the UA concentration was calculated based on a standard curve. Additional high abundance compounds were identified using HPLC-ESI-MS. Results: All UA supplement capsules averaged over 200% theoretical weight. The UA concentration in the supplements ranged from 14-49% and 12 additional compounds were identified. Conclusion: UA supplements provided more than 200% the stated quantity listed on the Supplement Facts Panel. However, UA supplements contained less than 50% UA and additional compounds identified were constituents of plants or commonly found in food products. A UA supplement with higher purity is needed to investigate its therapeutic effects in humans.
Authors and Affiliations
Ana L. Sesatty, Sarah L. Ullevig
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP349680
- DOI 10.9734/EJMP/2016/30144
- Views 111
- Downloads 0
Phytochemical Screening, In-vitro Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Characteristics of Tetrapleura tetraptera Extracts
Aims: In order to provide scientific evidence for the ethno-medical claims, this study was conducted to determine the phyto-constituents, antimicrobial activity and the antioxidant activity of the crude leaf and stem bar...
Phytochemical Analysis of Plectranthus sp. Extracts and Application in Inhibition of Dental Bacteria, Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans
Aims: Evaluation of leaves methanol extracts from Plectranthus barbatus and Plectranthus ecklonii (Lamiaceae) against oral pathogens. Place and Duration of the Study: P. barbatus and P. ecklonii, cultivated in Botanic Ga...
In vivo Toxicological Assessment of the Aqueous Extracts of the Leaves of Carissa edulis (Apocynaceae) in Wistar Rats
Aim: To screen the acute and 28-days subchronic toxicity of the leaves aqueous extract of Carissa edulis (C. edulis). Design: Experimental and observational study. Place and Duration: Faculty of health sciences of Cotono...
Cardioprotective Effect of Leaf and Root Extracts of Newbouldia laevis against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced-Cardiotoxicity in Albino Rats
Various parts of Newbouldia laevis are used by traditional medicine practitioners in Eastern Nigeria for treatment/management of several disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. This study was designed to investigat...
Effects of Chemical and Biological Fertilizers on Morpho-Physiological Traits of Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)
Aims: Fertilizer management is an important factor for a successful growth of officinal plants and the identity of suitable fertilizers in plants could have the desirable effects on quantitative and qualitative indices....