Evaluating Pfeiffer Circular Chromatography as a Qualitative Methodology of Viscum album Homeopathic Mother Tinctures: A Multicentric Collaborative Project Between Brazil and Switzerland

Abstract

Viscum album (VA) is a peculiar semiparasitic plant with important role in cancer therapy. The differences in phytochemical composition as well as the influence of host tree in the metabolome of VA subspecies are already described1. Our goal is to use the Pfeiffer Circular Chromatography (PCC) as a qualitative methodology to differentiate V. album mother tinctures (VAMT). The assays were conducted in two countries: Brazil (São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) and Switzerland (Arlesheim). Three VA subspecies (abietis, album, austriacum) and five host trees (Malus domestica, Quercus sp., Ulmus carpinifolia, Pinus sylvestris, Abies alba) were harvested in Switzerland in summer and winter. The VAMTs were prepared following the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia and the PCC experiments were performed as previously published2. The preliminary analysis and the reproducibility of the three independent assays performed in each experimental set are being evaluated by Image J software. The qualitative standard features will be used to the VAMT differentiation regarding the following PCC characteristics: inner and outer-zones, coloration, size, the presence of radial lines, among others. Besides, the High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was performed as standard quality control methodology using the CAMAG instruments to compare the phytochemical profile of V. album mother tinctures described in the French and German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeias. The samples have been characterized by the compounds retention factor (Rf) compared to the chemical standards (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, hyperoside and rutin). They present similar chemical markers when both methodologies were compared but with different intensities between season and host trees. Based on the hypothesis that the PCC patterns could be correlated with the chemical composition of VAMT, this multicentric research project will be useful to propose a low-cost and an easy methodology focused on the quality control parameters of these herbal raw materials.