Comparative Investigation of Hydrated Fruits of Prunella vulgaris and Nepetoideae species

Hydrogels have become some of the most well-known and valued materials in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry due to their unique rheological properties. The search for new polymers with desirable characteristics is ongoing and also includes natural sources, such as medicinal plants [1]. Prunella vulgaris has a long history of use in both Bulgarian and Chinese traditional medicine.

The goal of this study was to determine the structural and functional characteristics of the hydrogel (resulting from mixocarpy) and the mucilage production capabilities of P. vulgaris and compare it with 9 other taxa. Of those Ocimum basilicum, P. vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia hispanica, and Thymus vulgaris formed a hydrogel capsule. We further compared their dissolution and swelling capabilities by using pure water, 50% ethanol and 10% sucrose solutions and measuring changes in the width of the polymer layer over time. Lastly SEM images of the mixocarpy were taken and compared. O. basilicum formed the widest mucilage capsule, P. vulgaris, S. hispanica and R. officinalis had similar widths in water, while T. vulgaris had the smallest capsule. Results were similar for the other solvents used.

Fully defining the properties of these naturally occurring hydrogels (such as rehydration capabilities and impact on rheology in ionic solutions) requires more research.

Funding The authors are grateful for the financial support of Bulgarian NSF at the Ministry of Education and Science, 2901/KP-06-China/15/2020.

 

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• References

• 1 Mohammadinejad R. et al. Status and future scope of plant-based green hydrogels in biomedical engineering. Appl. Mater. Today 2019; 16: 213-246

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023