Natural Product Sciences  2016;22(1):20-24

doi:10.20307/nps.2016.22.1.20

Biological Activities and Stability of a Standardized Pentacyclic Triterpene Enriched Centella asiatica Extract.

Panupong PUTTARAK 1 ; Adelheid BRANTNER ; Pharkphoom PANICHAYUPAKARANANT

Affiliations

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Keywords

Centella asiatica; Pentacyclic triterpenes; Antiinflammatory; Antioxidant; Tyrosinase inhibition; Stability

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Pentacyclic triterpenes, mainly, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and madecassoside are the active constituents of Centella asiatica. A pentacyclic triterpene enriched C. asiatica extract (PRE) was prepared and standardized to contain a total pentacyclic triterpenes not less than 65% w/w. This work was focused on determination of antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of PRE and its stability. The PRE exhibited a satisfactory nitric oxide inhibitory effect, with an IC50 value of 64.6 µg/mL. In addition, the PRE inhibited tyrosinase enzyme activity with an IC50 value of 104.8 µg/mL. In contrast, the PRE possessed only weak antioxidant activity. The PRE was stable over a period of four months when stored as a dried powder but only in a well-closed container protected from light at 4 °C. An aqueous alcoholic solution of the PRE was stable at pH values of 5.8 and 7.0, but was not stable at a pH of 8.2. Preparations of the PRE in an aqueous solution should be performed in acidic or neutral conditions.