Eupeptic-digestive properties

University of Turin
DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
CHEMISTRY SECTION

 

Digestive LAR-ICE: explanations on the phytochemical profile analyses carried out at the Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences at the University of Turin, Chemistry Department.

The product “Digestive LAR-ICE” has been subjected to chemical analysis used to obtain information on the phytochemical profile of its preparation, to clarify its digestive properties.

Research in this matter was carried out because scientific evidence shows the presence of polysaccharide compounds within larch trees (known as arabinogalactans) which have typical food fibre properties plus polyphenolic glycoside compounds (flavonoids) with eupeptic-digestive properties.

Organic Composition

In particular:

Arabinogalactans:
This is a polysaccharide with prebiotic action.  Prebiotic is classified as having the ability to increase the numerical magnitude of Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli that reduce anaerobes, in particular Clostridium.
This event also promotes intestinal function improvement , these fibres promote intestinal peristalsis which tend to regularise the intestinal tract of the liver, thereby reacting in synergy with the intestinal bacterial flora .
Finally, these fibres can improve the lipid structure in dyslipidemic patients and may also reduce the postprandial glycaemic peak, particularly in patients with diabetes mellitus type II.
Given its quantitative composition, arabinogalactan is a remedy which is suitable for the intestine and immune-cell system as it contains the whole organism , whose intestinal transit is just one phase.
This suggestion is related to research carried out in recent years which showed that the intestines are a highly immunocompetent organ of vital importance with a high content of immunocompetent cells.

Polyphenols:
Polyphenols are widely present in the plant kingdom and within larch trees. They are natural antioxidants which may be useful in preventing the oxidation of lipoproteins and in reacting with free radicals themselves.  Positive biomedical effects on the cardiovascular levels have also been established.

Flavonoids:
Flavonoids are polyphenolic compound secondary plant metabolites.  They are mainly water-soluble. These nutrients are sometimes grouped under the name vitamin P.

CONCLUSION:

Following the analysis conducted, Digestive LAR-ICE’s preparation has a phytochemical profile following that of the larch trees just described, in fact it is rich in glycosylated polyphenolic derivatives (flavonoids).  The most abundant compound is an apigenin derivative with two glyosidic residues (arabinosyl-glucosyl and arabinosyl-galactosyl) with atypical-related structure. The polyphenols present, together with terpene derivatives, contribute to the eupeptic digestive results of the product.  Apigenin, also known for its antioxidant properties, is found in the most famous medicinal herbs which are known for their digestive effects.

Methodology of the analysis carried out:

Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode series (PDA) and electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI MS) detectors.

The analysis of the Phytochemical profile was carried out via HPLC-UV-ESI FTMS through column Cromografica RP-C18 (Phenomenex Luna PhenylHexyl 150 x 2.1, 3 µm) using a high resolution hybrid hygrometer, Thermo LTQ-Orbitrap as a spectrometer.

Ionization was performed by positive and negative ions in an electrospray source; the mass resolution was set to 30,000.

Component identification provided for comparison with pure standards and high-resolution mass spectral evaluation (<5 mmu, milli mass units).

 

IN CHARGE OF ANALYSIS
Prof. Claudio Medana