Introduction to Madder Extract
Rubia Cordata Extract is obtained from Rubia cordifolia L., a plant of the Rubiaceae family. Rubia Cordata is mainly distributed in temperate and tropical regions of Asia, Europe, Africa and America.
Extraction process of Rubia Cordata Extract:
Generally, solvent extraction is used. Rubia Cordata is soaked or refluxed with an organic solvent (such as ethanol, methanol, etc.) to dissolve the active ingredients in the solvent. Then, solid impurities are removed by filtration, and the solvent is evaporated and concentrated to obtain the Rubia Cordata Extract. In addition, there is supercritical fluid extraction technology, which uses fluids such as supercritical carbon dioxide to extract Rubia Cordata at a specific temperature and pressure. This method can effectively reduce the extraction of impurities and better retain the activity of the active ingredients.
Main ingredients:
Anthraquinone compounds: This is the core component of Rubia Cordata Extract, including alizarin, purpurin, pseudopurpurin, etc. The chemical structure of alizarin is 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone, and hydroxyalizarin is 1,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone. These anthraquinone compounds have multiple phenolic hydroxyl groups, which make them acidic and chemically reactive, and are the key components of madder to exert pharmacological effects.
Iridoid glycosides: such as asperuloside. Iridoid glycosides have multiple physiological functions in plants and may also play certain pharmacological roles in the human body. Their chemical structure contains an iridoid nucleus, which is usually connected to a sugar group, and the sugar group can affect its solubility and biological activity.
Efficacy of Madder Extract
Hemostatic effect:
Madder extract can effectively shorten the coagulation time. Its hemostatic mechanism may be achieved by activating the endogenous coagulation pathway and the exogenous coagulation pathway. In in vivo experiments, madder extract can increase the activity of coagulation factors in the blood, such as promoting the activation of coagulation factors VIII and IX, thereby accelerating the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and forming a blood clot. For some traumatic bleeding and internal bleeding (such as hemoptysis, hematuria, etc.), madder extract may have an auxiliary hemostatic effect.
Blood circulation and stasis removal effect:
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, madder has the function of blood circulation and stasis removal. From the perspective of modern medicine, this may be related to its ability to improve blood circulation. Madder extract can reduce blood viscosity and inhibit platelet aggregation. It prevents thrombosis by inhibiting receptors on the surface of platelets and reducing adhesion between platelets. For blood stasis and swelling caused by trauma, madder extract can promote local blood circulation, dissipate blood stasis as soon as possible, and relieve pain and swelling.
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties:
Madder extract has an inhibitory effect on a variety of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Its antibacterial mechanism is mainly that anthraquinone compounds can destroy the cell membrane structure of bacteria, causing the substances inside the bacteria to leak, thereby inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria. In terms of inflammation, madder extract can inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In the inflammatory model, after using madder extract, symptoms such as redness, swelling, and fever at the inflammatory site can be alleviated.
Anti-tumor potential:
Studies have found that madder extract may have certain anti-tumor potential. Anthraquinone compounds may inhibit the growth of tumor cells through various pathways. On the one hand, it can interfere with the cell cycle of tumor cells, causing tumor cells to stagnate at a certain growth stage and unable to divide normally. For example, it may cause tumor cells to stagnate at the G0/G1 phase and inhibit DNA synthesis. On the other hand, madder extract may induce tumor cell apoptosis, and by activating apoptosis-related proteins (such as caspase family proteins) in cells, tumor cells die according to their own programs. However, most of the current research in this area is still in the laboratory stage.
Application of Madder Extract
Medical field:
In traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, madder extract is an important component of many blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing and hemostatic prescriptions. For example, in prescriptions for the treatment of gynecological diseases such as irregular menstruation and metrorrhagia, madder extract is often combined with medicinal materials such as donkey-hide gelatin and wormwood to stop bleeding and regulate menstruation. In the treatment of traumatic injuries, it can be used together with frankincense, myrrh and other medicinal materials to help reduce swelling and relieve pain, and promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. With the in-depth study of its anti-tumor effect, it is expected that auxiliary anti-tumor drugs based on madder extract will be developed in the future.
Cosmetic field:
Since madder extract has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, it can be used in cosmetics to treat skin inflammations such as acne. It can be added to products such as facial cleansers and creams to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the skin surface and reduce inflammatory reactions. And its effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis may also help improve skin microcirculation, help improve skin color, and make the skin more rosy and shiny.
Printing and dyeing field:
Anthraquinone pigments in madder extract have been used for printing and dyeing in ancient times. Among them, madder extract and other ingredients are natural red dyes with bright and long-lasting colors. In traditional manual printing and dyeing and some modern natural dye printing and dyeing processes, madder extract is still used as an important source of red dye for textile dyeing.
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