Amarus Studi Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2013 Apr 17. [Epub ahead of print] Physicochemical characterization of phyllanthin from Phyllanthus amarus Schum. et Thonn. Hanh ND , Sinchaipanid N , Mitrevej A . Source Department of Manufacturing Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University , Bangkok , Thailand. Abstract Abstract Phyllanthin is a major bioactive lignan component of Phyllanthus amarus, with several known biological activities. This study dealt with the isolation and physicochemical characterization of phyllanthin. Phyllanthin was isolated from P. amarus leaves by column chromatography and purified by recrystallization to obtain phyllanthin crystals with a purity of more than 98%. UV, IR, MS, 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR spectra were employed to identify phyllanthin. The physicochemical properties of phyllanthin were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, pH-solubility, ionization property and lipophilicity. The results indicated that phyllanthin crystals had the melting point and melting enthalpy range of 96.67-97.03°C and 109.61-116.34J/g, respectively. Three kinds of phyllanthin crystals, recrystallized by petroleum ether, absolute ethanol and 25% ethanol solution, showed only one polymorph and no polymorphic impurity. Phyllanthin in a solid state was found to undergo significant thermal decomposition above 200°C. The compound demonstrated good stability in aqueous solution over a pH range of 1.07-10.02 for at least 4h. The solubility of phyllanthin appeared to be pH-independent of pH range from 1.07 to 10.26. Ionization property studied by absorbance spectroscopy method was in agreement with the result of pH-solubility study, showing that phyllanthin has no pKa over a pH range of 1.12-10.02. The logPow value of phyllanthin was found to be 3.30±0.05 at pH 7.48, suggesting that phyllanthin may have good permeability through biological membranes. The findings could be useful tools for the development of stable and bioavailable oral dosage forms of phyllanthin. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Nov 18;138(2):286-313. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.040. Epub 2011 Sep 29. Phyllanthus amarus: ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology: a review. Patel JR , Tripathi P , Sharma V , Chauhan NS , Dixit VK . Source Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar 470003, M.P., India. Abstract ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae is a small herb well known for its medicinal properties and widely used worldwide. P. amarus is an important plant of Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine which is used in the problems of stomach, genitourinary system, liver, kidney and spleen. It is bitter, astringent, stomachic, diuretic, febrifuge and antiseptic. The whole plant is used in gonorrhea, menorrhagia and other genital affections. It is useful in gastropathy, diarrhoea, dysentery, intermittent fevers, ophthalmopathy, scabies, ulcers and wounds.