Validated HPLC method for the standardization of Phyllanthus niruri (herb and commercial extracts) using corilagin as a phytochemical marker

Abstract

Phyllanthus niruri L., commonly known in Brazil as 'quebra-pedra', has long been used in the treatment of diverse diseases and especially urolithiasis. The therapeutic effects of P. niruri are attributed to various compounds present in the plant, including the hydrolysable tannin corilagin. In the present study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-/PAD) profiles of leaves and commercial extracts of P. niruri were examined and three compounds, found to be present in all of the samples studied, were isolated by open column chromatography over C18)silica gel followed by preparative HPLC. These compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance as corilagin, rutin and ethyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate. Corilagin, which has been proposed as a phytochemical marker for P. niruri, was employed as an external standard in the development and validation of a rapid and efficient qualitative and quantitative HPLC assay for the analyte. The method may be applied in the standardization of herbs and phytomedicines commercialized in Brazil as quebra-pedra.

Corilagin is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activity and downregulates TNF-alpha induced expression of IL-8 gene in cystic fibrosis IB3-1 cells

“…1A) is a gallotannin identified in several plants, including Terminalia chebula [45,46] and Anogeissus latifolia [47] (Combretaceae), Acer spp. (Aceraceae) [48], Sapium japonicum [49], Ricinus communis and Aleurites cordata (all Euphorbiaceae), and P. urinaria (Phyllanthaceae) [3,50,51]. Corilagin has been shown to exhibit versatile medicinal activities, including anti-inflammatory effects, using lipopolysaccharide activated murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells [23].…”

A potential anti-tumor herbal medicine, Corilagin, inhibits ovarian cancer cell growth through blocking the TGF-β signaling pathways

“…Of the two major isolated components (ethyl brevifolin carboxylate and Corilagin), Corilagin demonstrated better anti-tumor potential and lower toxicity in normal cells [unpublished data, Ming et al .]. Corilagin is a gallotannin that has been identified in several plants, including Phyllanthus niruri L. [9]. Corilagin has been shown to exhibit versatile medicinal activity including anti-inflammatory effects as well as hepato-protective activity [2,10,11].…”

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of corilagin in a rat model of acute cholestasis

“…Corilagin has been found in many medicinal plants and some advanced technologies have been employed to detect the content of corilagin in those plants [44]. Although corilagin can be synthesized by chemicals, the actual output for synthesis is limited [11].…”