Hydroxymethyl furfural in chinese herbal medicines: Its formation, presence, metabolism, bioactivities and implications

Abstract

Background: Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) must be processed before being prescribed to patients. During the processing, some CHMs became brown and as such 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) generated. Increasing attention is being paid to the safety and effectiveness of HMF. Methods: This paper summarized previous and recent reports on HMF formation, its presence in CHMs, its metabolism and bioactivities, together with its implications for CHMs. Results: HMF had been detected in 41 CHMs, and increased by about 12~1200 times after heat processing in some CHMs. Current data showed that HMF has limited genotoxicity but various bioactivities, such as anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypoxic, anti-microbial, and inhibiting sickling of red blood cells. Conclusion: Accumulation of HMF during heat processing of CHMs indicates that Maillard reaction and caramelization occurred. The other products of the two browning reactions deserve more attention in the following investigations on heat processed CHM.

Identification of bitter‐taste compounds in class‐III caramel colours

“…The DDMP and HMF were also identified as main bitter compounds in hydrophobic fraction of whole wheat bread 22 . Many Chinese medicines with strong bitter‐taste have been found to contain HMF and DDMP, 32,33 further suggesting their bitter attribution.…”

Steamed root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch (Plantaginaceae) alleviates methotrexate-induced intestinal mucositis in rats

“…1s and 2s (Gao et al, 2015;Guo et al, 2012;Liu and Wen, 2013). We have previously demonstrated that, during the steam processing of SRR, the Maillard reaction takes place, which is a complex chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars and finally forms melanoidins after a series of changes including rearrangement, enolization, degradation, polymerization and condensation (Guo et al, 2012).…”

Biomass-Derived Ionic Liquids Based on a 5-HMF Platform Chemical: Synthesis, Characterization, Biological Activity, and Tunable Interactions at the Molecular Level

“…In view of the aforesaid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and its derivatives (2,5-diformylfuran, dimethyl furfural, γ-valerolactone, levulinic acid, etc. ), which can be obtained by transformation of biomass-derived sugars in IL media, are among the particularly promising building blocks. − These biomass-derived products are proposed to be used in fine chemical synthesis of polymers, fuels, smart organic materials, and pharmaceuticals. − 5-HMF is abundant in sugar-containing processed foods and drinks, such as honey, coffee, juice, beverages, dried fruits, and bakery products. ,− Recent studies have revealed numerous beneficial biological activities of 5-HMF; − it has entered clinical studies as an anti-sickling agent. − In particular, various aminoalkylhydroxymethylfuran derivatives produced from furfural-based molecules are key structural units in many biologically active natural and artificial products involved in various pharmaceutical activities (as diuretics, anticancer, antihypertensive, or antimuscarinic agents). − …”