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01-01-2019 | Note

Non-alkaloidal composition of Ephedra Herb is influenced by differences in habitats

Authors: Naohiro Oshima, Tadatoshi Yamashita, Nahoko Uchiyama, Sumiko Hyuga, Masashi Hyuga, Jinwei Yang, Takashi Hakamatsuka, Toshihiko Hanawa, Yukihiro Goda

Published in: Journal of Natural Medicines | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Ephedra Herb is a crude drug defined as the terrestrial stem of Ephedra sinica, E. intermedia, or E. equisetina. It is often used to treat headaches, bronchial asthma, nasal inflammation, and the common cold. In this study, we isolated characteristic non-alkaloidal constituents from the extracts and identified them in relation to the habitat of Ephedra Herb. Extracts were prepared from Ephedra Herb collected from Inner Mongolia and Gansu. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to quantitatively analyse the amount of ephedrine alkaloids in each extract. We compared the chemical compositions of the extracts by thin layer chromatography (TLC) to find spot characteristics depending on the habitat. ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectra of the samples were also examined. The ephedrine content of all extracts satisfied the quality standard stated in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. Nonetheless, we found each notable constituent characteristic to the Ephedra Herbs from both habitats. In order to identify them, Ephedra Herb extracts were separated by column chromatography, resulting in the isolation of (±)-α-terpineol-β-d-O-glucopyranoside (1) and (E)-7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyloct-2-en-1-yl-β-d-O-glucopyranoside (2) as the characteristic constituents in Ephedra Herb from Inner Mongolia. Epheganoside (3), a new eudesmane-type sesquiterpene glycoside, and scopoletin (4) were found to be the characteristic constituents in Ephedra Herb from Gansu. The results obtained from this study can be used to distinguish between the habitats of Ephedra Herb.

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Title: Non-alkaloidal composition of Ephedra Herb is influenced by differences in habitats
Authors: Naohiro Oshima
Tadatoshi Yamashita
Nahoko Uchiyama
Sumiko Hyuga
Masashi Hyuga
Jinwei Yang
Takashi Hakamatsuka
Toshihiko Hanawa
Yukihiro Goda
Publication date: 01-01-2019
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Published in: Journal of Natural Medicines / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1340-3443
Electronic ISSN: 1861-0293
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-018-1265-z

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Non-alkaloidal composition of Ephedra Herb is influenced by differences in habitats

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