Occurrence of Emodin, Chrysophanol and Physcion in Vegetables, Herbs and Liquors. Genotoxicity and Anti-genotoxicity of the Anthraquinones and of the Whole Plants

Determination of pharmacologically active compounds in root extracts of Cassia alata L. by use of high performance liquid chromatography

“…In this study, as well as in previous reports [38,39], the analysis of anthraquinones using online mass spectrometric detection was found to be less sensitive than on-line UV detection. Therefore, HPLC-UV was chosen for the determination of compounds 1-6.…”

“…Several analytical methods such as thin-layer chromatography [28], micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography [29], capillary zone electrophoresis [30], capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) [31], gas chromatography [32], and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) [33] have been used for the determination of anthraquinones in various medicinal plants and natural products. In addition, analytical methods involving the use of HPLC [32][33][34][35][36] and liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (LC-MS) [37][38][39][40] have also been used for anthraquinone analysis in several natural products.…”

“…Generally, the use of LC-MS is advantageous over the use of CE-MS and GC-MS because it affords high separation efficiency and accurate identification of analytes over a wide range of molecular structures, chemical reactivities, polarities, and volatilities. Hence, separation of analytes as well as mass identification and confirmation of analytes can be achieved simultaneously in one experimental run using LC-MS. For example, LC-MS using electrospray ionization (ESI) [37,38] and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) [39,40] has been used for accurate identification of anthraquinones in plant extracts. In comparison with APCI-MS detection, the use of ESI-MS detection for anthraquinone identification is less effective, because the latter requires mobile phase additives other than the buffer to enhance analyte ionization [37,38].…”

Structure Antimutagenicity Relationship of Anthraquinones

“…Furthermore, toxicological studies carried out on hydroxyanthraquinones (i.e., aloe-emodin and emodin) present as minor components in senna, suggested that they may represent a genotoxic or cancerogenetic risk for man [89]. Mueller et al [90] investigated the genotoxicity of 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinones present in Chinese herbs and the mutation assay in lymphoma L5178Y, and observed that, emodin was genotoxic whereas chrysophanol and physcion showed no effects. Moreover, Mueller et al [90,81] had reported that plant derived 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives i.e., emodin and danthron were clearly genotoxic in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells, whereas chrysophanol was only weakly genotoxic and physcion not at all.…”

“…Mueller et al [90] investigated the genotoxicity of 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinones present in Chinese herbs and the mutation assay in lymphoma L5178Y, and observed that, emodin was genotoxic whereas chrysophanol and physcion showed no effects. Moreover, Mueller et al [90,81] had reported that plant derived 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives i.e., emodin and danthron were clearly genotoxic in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells, whereas chrysophanol was only weakly genotoxic and physcion not at all. These studies suggested that these compounds bound non-covalently to DNA and inhibited topoisomerase II activity.…”