[Award Lecture] – Scientifically based, high-quality phytotherapeutics

The research carried out in our research group NatuRA, which is a consortium of the Laboratories of Pharmacognosy, Nutrition and Food Science and Pharmaceutical Analysis, is focused on projects in the area of: "Development of scientifically based high-quality phytotherapeutics”. More specifically, the consortium has expertise in the following fields: isolation and characterization of secondary metabolites; development and validation of methods for quality control and standardization; investigations of the bioavailability and metabolisation of natural products; and in vivo and in vitro evaluation of health promoting effects.

A major project during the past years was a comprehensive study on saponins isolated from the leaves of Maesa lanceolata. After isolating the individual compounds using semi-preparative HPLC, the structures were established using spectroscopic methods. These compounds showed virucidal, haemolytic, molluscicidal and anti-angiogenic activity. Maesasaponin II displayed the highest anti-angiogenic activity, but was only present in very small amounts in the plant. To increase this amount, a combinatorial biosynthesis platform was constructed. For the fast and sensitive analysis of the saponins in the cell cultures a UPLC-MS (TQD) method was developed.

A major point of interest within the consortium is phytochemical analysis; i.e. development and validation of methods for quality control and standardization. The laboratory has built up an extensive experience in the analysis of a large variety of natural products; among which, but not limited to phenolic compounds e.g. isoflavones and prenylnaringenins, alkaloids and terpenoidic compounds such as mono-, di and sesquiterpenes and saponins. The mission of the lab is to support, investigate and control the quality of plant based preparations and to contribute to public health. A recent market study of food supplements (Hop, St. John's wort, Ginkgo and Soy) on the Belgian market revealed that only 35% was found to be compliant.