Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are silent killers and hyperlipidemia is a high-risk factor. Morinda citrolia leaf (MCL), which is commonly consumed by many cultural groups and has high level of catechins, might exert antihyperlipidemic properties. In this study, the catechins profile of MCL water extract was determined via HPLC and ultraperformance liquid chromatography-traveling wave ion mobility-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TWIMS-QTOF). The major catechin in MCL and the most widely studied catechin with hypolipidemic activity, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), was studied in a cytotoxicity test on HepG2 cells prior the in vitro anti-hyperlipidemic assay. The total catechins of MCL reached 141.88 AE 5.04 mg/g, with catechin gallate (CG) (75.27 AE 8.49 mg/g) as the major catechin. Catechin derivatives that were identified include epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) with m/z 459.0912Cell inhibitions of MCL, CG and EGCG were more than IC 50 of 100 μg/ml. MCL increased LDL-c uptake up to 1.11 AE 0.03-fold, but this was insignificant relative to control. CG and EGCG significantly increased LDL-c uptake up to 1.37 AE 0.19-fold and 1.59 AE 0.19-fold, respectively. Thus, MCL with CG has shown potential for modulating hyperlipidemia.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ethanol acidification on the antioxidant properties of Morinda citrifolia leaf (MCL) extract and its catechin derivatives. Four different ethanol (100%, 99.5%, 70%, 50%) with or without 0.5% acetic acid were used for extraction. The antioxidant profile was studied with DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP and TPC. The quantification of catechins in MCL was performed using HPLC, and the identification of catechins derivatives was performed with Ultra UPLC-TWIMS-QTOF. The results showed that an extraction solvent composed of 70% ethanol: 29.5% water: 0.5 % acetic acid exhibited the highest DPPH percentage of inhibition (86.12±2.96%) and highest TPC value with 97.80±0.25 mg GAE/g extract, while 100% ethanol acidified with 0.5% acetic acid showed highest FRAP antioxidant power with 1.31±0.05mg FSE/g extract. All eight types of catechins were identified in MCL and the most total catechins were quantified in 70% ethanol: 29.5% water: 0.5 % acetic acid at 153.57mg/g. The catechin derivatives identified included epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (4β, 8)-gallocatechin, gallocatechin (4α→8)-epicatechin, catechin-3-O-gallate (CG) and epigallocatechin (EGC). The results suggest that acidification improves the extraction of polyphenols as well as catechin content.

Background: Aralia cachemirica Decne. is an important medicinal plant species of Kashmir Himalaya. Regardless of having enormous medicinal importance little information exists on the biological activities of the species. For this reason, present work was carried out for providing comprehensive details on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of different parts of A. cachemirica.Methods: In this connection, different parts (leaves, stem and root) of the plant were examined following standard methodologies. Antioxidant potential of the plant was determined by three different standard methodologies viz. DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power activity and metal chelating activity. For anti-inflammatory activities two different standard methods viz. human RBC membrane stabilization method and protein denaturation method were followed.Results: The extracts exhibited concentration dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities but were weaker than the standards. Also, the highest activities were recorded in the root and least in the leaves. Also, the highest activities were recorded in the leaves and least in the stem.Conclusion: This is the first study providing information regarding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of different parts of the species. The antioxidant activity of the extract could have great importance as therapeutic agents in preventing or slowing the progress of aging and age associated, oxidative stress related degenerative diseases. Plant derived anti-inflammatory agents are competent cure for inflammation caused by a range of agents, which shows the way to their soaring requirement. Exploitation of these agents requires to be regulated in order, to be sustainable and keep up with demands.