title: Botanicals in Ribes nigrum bud-preparations: an analytical fingerprinting to evaluate the bioactive contribution to total phytocomplex.
abstract: CONTEXT. Ribes nigrum L. (Grossulariaceae) is among the most commonly used herbal medicines and it is popularized for its alleged tonic effect and curative and restorative properties. The current practice of identifying herbal extracts is by measuring the concentration of the main botanicals. Their concentrations are used to characterize the herbal preparations and fingerprinting is recommended by the main Pharmacopeias as a potential and reliable strategy for the quality control of complex mixtures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to perform an analytical study of R. nigrum bud-preparations, in order to identify and quantify the main bioactive compounds, obtaining a specific chemical fingerprint to evaluate the single class contribution to herbal preparation phytocomplex.
  
  
  METHODS
  The same analyses were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph-diode array detector both on University lab preparations and on commercial preparations from different Italian locations. Different chromatographic methods were used to analyse the macerated samples, two for polyphenols and one for terpenic compounds. RESULTS. Ribes nigrum was identified as a rich source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. The observed analytical firgerprint demonstrated that these bud-preparations represent a rich source of terpenic and polyphenolic compounds, especially catechins and phenolic acids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analytical fingerprinting could be an important tool to study the assessment of chemical composition and bioactivities of plant-derived products, helping to find new sources of natural health-promoting compounds: this study allowed the development of an effective tool for quality control through botanical fingerprinting of bud preparations.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, Università degli Studi di Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy. dario.donno@unito.it
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donno
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Beccaro
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mellano
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cerutti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bounous
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis; D031965:Ribes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D013729:Terpenes; D002392:Catechin; C017616:phenolic acid