Abstract
Octanol (n-C8H17OH), the configuration of which resembles a carbohydrate and lipid, was used as a
biomembrane model, and an octanol-water system was adopted to study the distribution
of copper in herbal decoctions under the acidity of saliva, gastric juice, bile and
intestinal fluid. Octanol- and water-solubility were used for speciation analysis
and the bioavailability assessment of copper. The influence of a combination of Aconitum carmichaeli and Paeonia lactiflora at different ratios, the acidity of the digestive site on the species, and the bioavailability
and dose of copper were studied. The concentrations of copper in the original herbal
materials and in n-octanol- and water-soluble fractions were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry
following mixed acid digestion. The results showed that the digestive juice acidity,
phytomedical composition, and combination ratio of phytomedicines dominated both the
species present and the bioavailability of copper. The concentration of octanol-soluble
copper could be used to represent the bioavailability assessment of copper in the
phytomedicines, and the dosage of copper in the phytomedicines could be designed based
on the level of the octanol-soluble copper and the recommended dietary allowance for
copper (0.9 mg/day). Risk assessment could be examined through comparison of the level
of octanol-soluble copper and the tolerable upper intake level for copper (10 mg /day).
Key words
phytomedicine - copper - Ranunculaceae - Paeoniaceae -
Aconitum carmichaeli
-
Paeonia lactiflora
References
- 1
Chan K.
Some aspects of toxic contaminants in herbal medicines.
Chemosphere.
2003;
52
1361-71
- 2
Ajasa A MO, Bello M O, Ibrahim A O, Ogunwande I A, Olawore N O.
Heavy trace metals and macronutrients status in herbal plants of Nigeria.
Food Chem.
2004;
85
67-71
- 3
Goldhaber S B.
Trace element risk assessment: essentiality vs. toxicity.
Regul Toxicol Pharm.
2003;
38
232-42
- 4
Singh V, Garg A N.
Availability of essential trace elements in Ayurvedic India medicinal herbs using
instrumental neutron activation analysis.
Appl Radiat Isotopes.
1997;
48
97-101
- 5
Mehtap G Ç, Cenk C, Sibel Ü.
Effect of vitamin E on vascular responses of thoracic aorta in rat experimental arthritis.
Gen Pharmacol.
1998;
31
149-53
- 6
Jackson G E, Mkhonta-Gama L, Voyé A.
Design of copper-based anti-inflammatory drugs.
J Inorg Biochem.
2000;
79
147-52
- 7
Setty A R, Sigal L H.
Herbal medications commonly used in the practice of rheumatology: Mechanisms of action,
efficacy, and side effects.
Semin Arthritis Rheumatol.
2005;
34
773-84
- 8
Qin L, Pen X, Li X L.
Acute toxicity experiment of White Peony Root and Radix Aconiti together or single
use.
Chin J Shandong Univ TCM.
2002;
4
453-5
- 9
Qin L, Peng X, Li X L.
Effect of Aconitum carmichaeli and Paeonia lactiflora in combination on experimental pain.
Chin Mater Med.
1999;
24
629-32
- 10
Xue L, Zhang H Y, Qin L.
Effect of Chuanwu and Baishao used separately or in combination on adjuvant arthristis
in rats.
Chin Mater Med.
2000;
25
175-8
- 11
Chew L T, Bradley D A, Mohd A Y.
Zinc, lead and copper in human teeth measured by induced coupled argon plasma atomic
emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).
Appl Radiat Isotopes.
2000;
3
633-8
- 12
Zhu X X, Mao H P.
Research forelands of Chinese traditional medicine: Chinese traditional medical coordination
chemistry.
Chin Herbal Med.
1997;
28
373-5
- 13
Wei W, Qu L B, Li J J.
Determination of Cu, Zn and Fe in Huaiyao by suspension sampling-flame atomic absorption
spectrometry.
Spectrosc Spectr Anal.
2002;
22
856-8
- 14
Wesolowski M, Konieczynski P.
Thermoanalytical, chemical and principal component analysis of plant drugs.
Int J Pharm.
2003;
262
29-37
- 15
Nurul A, Satoshi K, Tohru S.
Slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper
in herbal medicine samples with a molybdenum tube atomizer.
Microchem J.
2003;
74
181-6
- 16
Li L, Xie M, Sun Z.
The study on the element transference characteristics and element speciation in the
extract of Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja leaves.
Chem J Chin Univ.
2000;
21
707-9
- 17
Ye Y, Huang R.
Studies on the speciation analysis of trace amounts of iron, copper, manganese and
zinc in aqueous solution of Gynostemma pentaphyllum by atomic emission spectrometry.
Spectrosc Spectr Anal.
1994;
14
73-7
- 18
Wienk K JH, Marx J JM, Beynen A C.
The concept of iron bioavailability and its assessment.
Eur J Nutr.
1999;
38
51-75
- 19
Rüdel H.
Case study: bioavailability of tin and tin compounds.
Ecotoxicol Environ Safety.
2003;
56
180-9
- 20 Zhang W, Li A. Medicinal chemistry. Beijing; Higher Education Press 1999: 215-24
- 21
Oomen A G, Tolls J, Sips A JAM, Hoop M AGT.
Lead speciation in artificial human digestive fluid.
Arch Environ Contamin Toxicol.
2003;
44
107-15
- 22
Qin L, Zhang S H, Li X L.
Studies on immunoregulating effect of Monkshood Root and Peony Root used singly and
in combination.
Chin Mater Med.
2002;
27
541-4
Prof. Dr. Li Shun-xing
Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science
Zhangzhou Teachers College
Zhangzhou 363000
People’s Republic of China
Phone: +86/596/252/3251
Fax: +86/596/252/0035
Email: lishunxing@fjzs.edu.cn
