Preparation, Quality Evaluation, and Determination of Antioxidant and in vitro Anti-inflammatory Activities of 5-herb Extract

Abstract

“Ngũ vị” is a herbal remedy from Truong Giang Traditional Medicine Clinic specialized in treating various coughs. The abundant saponin content in the remedy has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, mucolytic, and respiratory membrane-protective effects. To ensure convenience, Ngũ Vị concentrated extract was prepared and evaluated according to the requirements of the Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia V (VP V), determining total ash content, performing qualitative and quantitative analyses, and assessing some in vitro biological activities such as antioxidant activity by DPPH method and anti-inflammatory activity. The results showed that Ngũ Vị concentrated extract met the criteria of VP V, with a total ash content of 3.41 %, steroidal saponin content of (32.02 ± 0.81) μg/mL, antioxidant capacity IC₅₀ of 32.04 mg/mL (compared to ascorbic acid 7.44 μg/mL), and anti-inflammatory capacity IC₅₀ of 6.92 mg/mL (compared to diclofenac with 489.25 μg/mL). Ngũ vị concentrated extract can be applied as a supportive preparation in treating persistent respiratory diseases due to "heat in the lung" or "qi-yin deficiency" factors in traditional medicine, from which it can be developed into modern dosage forms such as medicinal syrups, capsules, and instant teas.