Comparison of Various Techniques for the Extraction, Analysis of Compounds and Determination of Antioxidant Activities of Rhodiola Spp. - A Review

ABSTRACT

This review presents an overview of the current knowledge regarding the techniques for the extraction of selected Rhodiola species, their bioactive compounds and their underlying mechanisms of action with particular emphasis on free radical scavenging properties. Rhodiola genus (Crassulaceae) is a perennial, which grows naturally in eastern Siberia, Scandinavia, Alaska and northern Europe that has been traditionally used in folk Asian medicine. In this review, we have done a critical evaluation of available literature on Rhodiola species roots and rhizomes, especially R. rosea (L.), R. imbricata (Edgew.), R. crenulata (Hook.f. & Thomson), R. kirilowii (Regel) and R. heterodonta (Hook.f. & Thomson), that have been most thoroughly investigated and described so far. Databases, including Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar were applied to obtain relevant literature, based on reports mainly in the last 20 years. Here, we improved the list of the most important chemical compounds of Rhodiola spp. – mainly phenolic compounds and essential oils, taking into account their detection methods. In addition, we compared qualitatively and quantitatively different kind of extraction methods and analyzed the results regarding the antioxidant effects of Rhodiola species in vitro and in vivo on mouse and rat.

KEYWORDS:

• Rhodiola species
• antioxidants
• qualitative evaluation
• rhodiola extracts
• extraction methods

Abbreviations

AAE - Ascorbic acid equivalent

ABTS - 2,2′-Azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid assay

CAT - Catalase

CE - Capillary Electrophoresis

C-H-R - cold-hypoxia-restraint

DPPH - 2,2-Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical assay

FRAP - Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay

GADPH - Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase

GAE - Gallic acid equivalent

GC-MS - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

GRE - Glutathione reductase

GSH - Reduced glutathione

GSH-Px - Glutathione peroxidase

GST - Glutathione S-transferase

H₂O₂ - Hydrogen peroxide

HHPT - High Hydrostatic Pressure Technique

HIUS - High-Intensity Ultrasound

HSCCC - High-speed counter-current Chromatography

IC₅₀ - half maximal inhibitory concentration

LC - Liquid Chromatography

LC-MS - Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

LDH - Lactate dehydrogenase

MDA - Malondialdehyde

RBC - red blood cells

RE - Rutin equivalent

RH - Rhodionin

ROS - reactive oxygen species

RT - room temperature

SOD - Superoxide dismutase

TAA - Total antioxidant activity

TBARS - Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances

tBOOH - tert-butyl-hydroperoxide

T_rec - rectal temperature

UAE - Ultrasonically Assisted Extraction

UPE - Ultrahigh Pressure Extraction

UPLC-DAD-TOF-MS/MS - Ultra-high-performance Liquid Chromatography-diode array detector-tandem Mass Spectrometry

Conflicts of interest

The author declares there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.