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Pharmacological Research Dec 2021With the coming of the era of the aging population, hypertension has become a global health burden to be dealt with. Although there are multiple drugs and procedures to...
With the coming of the era of the aging population, hypertension has become a global health burden to be dealt with. Although there are multiple drugs and procedures to control the symptoms of hypertension, the management of it is still a long-term process, and the side effects of conventional drugs pose a burden on patients. Flavonoids, common compounds found in fruits and vegetables as secondary metabolites, are active components in Chinese Herbal Medicine. The flavonoids are proved to have cardiovascular benefits based on a plethora of animal experiments over the last decade. Thus, the flavonoids or flavonoid-rich plant extracts endowed with anti-hypertension activities and probable mechanisms were reviewed. It has been found that flavonoids may affect blood pressure in various ways. Moreover, despite the substantial evidence of the potential for flavonoids in the control of hypertension, it is not sufficient to support the clinical application of flavonoids as an adjuvant or core drug. So the synergistic effects of flavonoids with other drugs, pharmacokinetic studies, clinical trials and the safety of flavonoids are also incorporated in the discussion. It is believed that more breakthrough studies are needed. Overall, this review may shed some new light on the explicit recognition of the mechanisms of anti-hypertension actions of flavonoids, pointing out the limitations of relevant research at the current stage and the aspects that should be strengthened in future researches.
Topics: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 34601080
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105919 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 2020Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata) is a well-known perennial herb that is used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine. In China, it is known as Ban Zhi Lian,...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata) is a well-known perennial herb that is used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine. In China, it is known as Ban Zhi Lian, while in Korea, it is known as Banjiryun. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system, S. barbata has heat-clearing and detoxifying properties (Qingre Jiedu in Chinese).
AIM OF THE REVIEW
To provide a systematic review on current multifaceted understanding of S. barbata, with particular emphasis on the correlation between its traditional applications and pharmacological activities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
All available S. barbata-related information from internet databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier, China National Knowledge Internet, and Google Scholar (up to October 2018) were searched. Additional information was gathered from classical books on Chinese Herbals, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and so on.
RESULTS
In the TCM system, S. barbata is mainly prescribed for its heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. More than 203 compounds have been isolated and identified from this herb, with neo-clerodane diterpenoids and flavonoids as the main compounds. Most neo-clerodanes have been demonstrated to have cytotoxic effects against different cancer cell types in vitro. The S. barbata extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antitumor, and other pharmacological activities. To add, flavonoids, including wogonin, baicalein, apigenin, naringenin, and scutellarin, were identified as the key to quality control.
CONCLUSIONS
The heat-clearing effects of S. barbata could be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities, whereas its detoxifying effects might be due to the anti-microbial functions of neo-clerodane diterpenoids and flavones. S. barbata may display anti-tumor effects and through active ingredient analysis, neo-clerodane diterpenoids are suggested to be its representative compounds. Overall, many pre-clinical studies have been conducted but very little concrete evidences are available on its specific effects, which are of therapeutic relevance.
Topics: Animals; Diterpenes, Clerodane; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ethnopharmacology; Flavones; Humans; Mice; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Quality Control; Scutellaria
PubMed: 31577937
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112260 -
Pharmacological Research Oct 2020Influenza is a major public health problem worldwide. Mutations and resistance development make the use of antiviral therapy challenging. Chinese patent medicines are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Influenza is a major public health problem worldwide. Mutations and resistance development make the use of antiviral therapy challenging. Chinese patent medicines are often used to treat influenza in China and well tolerable. However, the misuse of Chinese patent medicines is common. We therefore aimed to develop an evidence-based guideline on treating influenza with Chinese patent medicines in adults to guide clinical practice. We formed a steering committee, a consensus panel, a consultants' group and an evidence synthesis team to guide the development of the guideline. We formulated the clinical questions through two rounds of survey, and finally selected five questions. We then systematically searched the related evidence and conducted meta-analyses, evidence summaries and GRADE decision tables to draft the recommendations, which the consensus panel then voted on using the Delphi method. Finally, we formulated six recommendations based on the evidence synthesis and experts' consensus. For treating mild influenza, we suggest either Lianhua Qingwen capsule, Jinhua Qinggan granule, Banlangen granule, Shufeng Jiedu capsule, or Jinfang Baidu pill, depending on the manifestations. For severe influenza, or mild influenza in patients at high risk of developing severe influenza, we suggest Lianhua Qingwen capsule in combination with antiviral medications and supportive therapy. The strength of all recommendations was weak. Traditional Chinese medicine has great potential to help in the fight against influenza worldwide, but more high-quality studies are still needed to strengthen the evidence.
Topics: Adult; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Influenza, Human; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Nonprescription Drugs
PubMed: 32739428
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105101 -
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 2018Flavonoid compound scutellarin (Scu) is quite frequently met in the plant kingdom, particularly in the genus Scutellaria (Lamiaceae) and Erigeron (Asteraceae). The... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Flavonoid compound scutellarin (Scu) is quite frequently met in the plant kingdom, particularly in the genus Scutellaria (Lamiaceae) and Erigeron (Asteraceae). The extract of the herb of Erigeron breviscapus, containing this component in high amount, has been used for many years in traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, studies have made great progress on the usefulness of Scu for treating various diseases by testing its mechanism of action. They support the traditional use of Scu rich plant in heart and cerebral ischemia. Scu can potentially be applied in Alzheimer's disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, vascular complications of diabetes and as an inhibitor of certain carcinomas. Various methods were designed to improve its isolation from plant material, solubility, absorption and bioavailability. On the basis of recent studies, it is suggested that Scu could be a promising candidate for new natural drug and deserves particular attention in further research and development.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Apigenin; Brain Ischemia; Databases, Bibliographic; Diabetic Angiopathies; Erigeron; Gastritis; Glucuronates; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Myocardial Ischemia; Phytotherapy; Scutellaria
PubMed: 29433387
DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X18500167 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024L. (Lamiaceae), known in English as 'wild thyme', is primarily found in the Palearctic realm (Eurasia, North Africa) and has been utilized traditionally for culinary,...
L. (Lamiaceae), known in English as 'wild thyme', is primarily found in the Palearctic realm (Eurasia, North Africa) and has been utilized traditionally for culinary, nutritional, medicinal, and aromatic purposes. The essential oil extracted from wild thyme is particularly noteworthy, being used extensively in the food industry as a flavoring agent and preservative. The plant's aerial parts are commonly employed as an element of the diet (e.g., tea)/for culinary uses and in local/traditional medicine (primarily for managing respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions), similar to the use of common thyme. There is practically no information available on the species' nutritional benefits. Pharmacological studies, including and research, alongside a limited number of clinical trials, have investigated extracts of , although these extracts are often phytochemically poorly characterized in different experimental protocols and models. These studies have demonstrated a range of therapeutic effects, such as antimicrobial (notably the essential oil) and anti-inflammatory, as well as its preventative health benefits and nutritional value of wild thyme. Preclinical studies have corroborated the plant's anti-inflammatory potential, particularly in conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and irritable bowel syndromes (IBS). Additionally, evidence of hepatoprotective activities and benefits in managing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular health issues, such as lipid metabolism regulation, cholesterol reduction, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects, have been observed predominantly in rodent models. Phytochemical analysis of wild thyme reveals an essential oil fraction below 1%, along with non-volatile compounds predominantly comprising phenolic acids (such as rosmarinic, salvianolic, and caffeic acids) and flavonoids (mainly glucosides of luteolin, apigenin, and their derivatives). These components are believed to contribute significantly to the plant's medicinal, nutritional, and preventive health properties. Despite promising findings, there is a need for more rigorously designed controlled clinical trials using phytochemically characterized wild thyme. The plant has an excellent safety and tolerability record. This review at the interface of nutritional/preventive health properties and as pharmacological activities highlights the current role of wild thyme in nutrition and general healthcare as well as its future potential, and also points to important gaps in the literature.
PubMed: 38846542
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1380962