Planta Med 2004; 70(5): 432-436
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-818971
Original Paper
Physiology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Stability Control of Senna Leaves and Senna extracts

Martin Goppel1 , Gerhard Franz1
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: October 27, 2003

Accepted: January 30, 2004

Publication Date:
04 May 2004 (online)

Abstract

Powdered senna leaves and a commercial methanolic senna leaf extract were investigated for apparent degradation pathways of known constituents. Different defined storage conditions were chosen according to the guidelines of the international conference on harmonization. Analytical fingerprinting was carried out by HPLC with photodiode array detection. Differences in degradation pathways were observed between the powdered herbal drug material and the extract, depending on storage conditions and packaging materials. Within the crude plant material sennosides were shown to be degraded to sennidine monoglycosides, while rhein 8-O-glucoside was hydrolysed to rhein by enzymatic processes. Degradation of the anthranoid compounds was not due to the same pathways in the investigated commercial extracts. Only unspecific alterations of all compounds were observed. Forced decomposition of this herbal drug preparation under high temperature caused oxidative decomposition of the sennosides to rhein 8-O-glucoside. Furthermore flavonoid glycosides decomposition were observed with an apparent increase in the content of flavone aglyca.

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Prof. Dr. G. Franz

Department of Pharmaceutical Biology

Institute of Pharmacy

University of Regensburg

Universitätsstrasse 31

93040 Regensburg

Germany

Phone: +49-941-943-4761

Fax: +49-941-943-4762

Email: Gerhard.franz@chemie.uni-regensburg.de