An appropriate solvent for the preparation of Prasaplai extract

• Main Authors: Prasan Tangyuenyongwatana, Wandee Gritsanapan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University 2009-11-01
• Series: Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST)
• Subjects: Prasaplai; artifact; fatty acid ester; HPLC; Thai traditional medicine
• Online Access: http://www.rdoapp.psu.ac.th/html/sjst/journal/31-5/0125-3395-31-5-527-531.pdf

Prasaplai is a Thai traditional formulation for relieving dysmenorrhea and adjusting the cycle of menstruation. Threefatty acid esters, (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-yl linoleate (1), (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-yl oleate(2) and (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-yl palmitate (3), were formed during storage by the interaction of componentsin the preparation. The recommended dose (1.0 g) of Prasaplai was separately extracted by exhaustive sonication with three different solvents; which are hexane, 40% ethanol and distilled water, and yielded 26.70±0.11 mg (2.7% w/w), 33.96± 0.05 mg (3.40% w/w), and 49.83±0.30 mg (4.98% w/w), respectively. The crude extracts were analyzed by HPLC for contents of the four major compounds i.e (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-ol (compound D), (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)butadiene (DMPBD), piperine, -asarone, and three artifacts. The results showed that only the hexane extractcontained the artifacts while the 40% ethanol extract contained the maximum amounts of the major active anti-inflammatorycomponents, and water extract contained only compound D. These results suggest that the 40% ethanol extract should be theappropriate extract for the preparation of Prasaplai in modern dosage forms due to the high content of active anti-inflammatory agents in the extract.