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Abstract
The high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) profiling of sugars, sugar alcohols, amino acids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, as well as bioactive and antioxidative compounds, is described for the first time in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of some Indian herbs, namely, Hippophae rhamnoides, Valeriana wallichii, Triticum aestivum, and the fungus Cordyceps sinensis, all known for their natural performance enhancement capacity. For the analysis of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, the Automated Multiple Development (AMD2) system was employed. For the determination of the bioactivity of the extracts, chromatography was linked to a bioassay, and, therefore, the developed plate was automatically dipped into the luminescent Vibrio fischeri bacteria suspension. The presence of sugars could be confirmed in all aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts, except for the hydroalcoholic extract of Cordyceps sinensis. Relatively high amounts of amino acids were found in the extracts of Triticum aestivum and Cordyceps sinensis. In terms of sugar alcohols, the highest amount was observed in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Cordyceps sinensis, in which mannitol was found. Xylitol was present to a high extent in all three extracts of Valeriana wallichii. A high content of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other bioactive compounds was observed in the hydroalcoholic extract of Valeriana wallichii. Using the DPPH• radical reagent, the antioxidant potential of the four extracts was in the following order: Valeriana wallichii hydroalcoholic extract > Triticum aestivum hydroalcoholic extract > Valeriana wallichii aqueous extract > Triticum aestivum aqueous extract > Hippophae rhamnoides aqueous extract > Cordyceps sinensis aqueous extract ≥ Cordyceps sinensis hydroalcoholic extract.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Authors are thankful to Director, DIPAS, Delhi, India, for her constant support and Directors, DIHAR and DIBER, Delhi, India, for providing the plant material for the study; to Prof. Dr. W. Schwack, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, for the excellent working conditions; to E. Dytkiewitz, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, for recording the FTIR-ATR spectra; to Merck, Darmstadt and CAMAG, Berlin, both Germany, for support regarding plate material and instrumentation.
