“Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing Agent
The aerial parts (Herba Saniculae) and the underground parts (Radix Saniculae) of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> (sanicle) have been used traditionally in Austrian folk medicine to treat wounds. Interestingly, in the Austrian vernacular, “Radix Saniculae” can also refer to the underground part...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Elisabeth Eichenauer Christina Sykora Karin Ortmayr Sabine Glasl |
| author_facet | Elisabeth Eichenauer Christina Sykora Karin Ortmayr Sabine Glasl |
| author_sort | Elisabeth Eichenauer |
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| description | The aerial parts (Herba Saniculae) and the underground parts (Radix Saniculae) of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> (sanicle) have been used traditionally in Austrian folk medicine to treat wounds. Interestingly, in the Austrian vernacular, “Radix Saniculae” can also refer to the underground parts of <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i>. This ambiguity can lead to mistakes in using these two plants and, importantly, adulterations. The present work aims to shed light on using Radix Saniculae as a wound-healing agent. Thus, the main components in the aerial and the scarcely investigated underground parts of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> were identified and compared to the underground parts of <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i>. For this purpose, different analytical techniques were employed: TLC, HPLC-DAD/ELSD, UHPLC-ESI-MS, and GC-MS. The main components in both <i>Sanicula</i> and <i>Cardamine</i> plant extracts were saccharides. Both parts of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> showed similar compositions: hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and triterpene saponins. In contrast, the underground parts of <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i> contain two glucosinolates and their breakdown products. These findings suggest the same wound-healing activity for the underground parts of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> as was already found for its aerial parts. The glucosinolates detected in <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i> substantiate its use in wound healing. Nevertheless, the presented analytical methods allow for easy discovery of adulterations. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2e19429ae3bb4caebc64ad7ec92d00a92025-01-24T13:47:00ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114226610.3390/plants14020266“Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing AgentElisabeth Eichenauer0Christina Sykora1Karin Ortmayr2Sabine Glasl3Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, AustriaThe aerial parts (Herba Saniculae) and the underground parts (Radix Saniculae) of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> (sanicle) have been used traditionally in Austrian folk medicine to treat wounds. Interestingly, in the Austrian vernacular, “Radix Saniculae” can also refer to the underground parts of <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i>. This ambiguity can lead to mistakes in using these two plants and, importantly, adulterations. The present work aims to shed light on using Radix Saniculae as a wound-healing agent. Thus, the main components in the aerial and the scarcely investigated underground parts of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> were identified and compared to the underground parts of <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i>. For this purpose, different analytical techniques were employed: TLC, HPLC-DAD/ELSD, UHPLC-ESI-MS, and GC-MS. The main components in both <i>Sanicula</i> and <i>Cardamine</i> plant extracts were saccharides. Both parts of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> showed similar compositions: hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and triterpene saponins. In contrast, the underground parts of <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i> contain two glucosinolates and their breakdown products. These findings suggest the same wound-healing activity for the underground parts of <i>Sanicula europaea</i> as was already found for its aerial parts. The glucosinolates detected in <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i> substantiate its use in wound healing. Nevertheless, the presented analytical methods allow for easy discovery of adulterations.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/266Austrian traditional medicinewound-healing plants<i>Sanicula europaea</i><i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i>phytochemical composition |
| spellingShingle | Elisabeth Eichenauer Christina Sykora Karin Ortmayr Sabine Glasl “Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing Agent Plants Austrian traditional medicine wound-healing plants <i>Sanicula europaea</i> <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i> phytochemical composition |
| title | “Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing Agent |
| title_full | “Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing Agent |
| title_fullStr | “Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing Agent |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing Agent |
| title_short | “Radix Saniculae”: Phytochemical Characterization and Potential Adulteration of an Austrian Traditional Wound-Healing Agent |
| title_sort | radix saniculae phytochemical characterization and potential adulteration of an austrian traditional wound healing agent |
| topic | Austrian traditional medicine wound-healing plants <i>Sanicula europaea</i> <i>Cardamine enneaphyllos</i> phytochemical composition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/266 |
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