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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2019Chia ( L.) is a small seed that comes from an annual herbaceous plant, L. In recent years, usage of Chia seeds has tremendously grown due to their high nutritional and... (Review)
Review
Chia ( L.) is a small seed that comes from an annual herbaceous plant, L. In recent years, usage of Chia seeds has tremendously grown due to their high nutritional and medicinal values. Chia was cultivated by Mesopotamian cultures, but then disappeared for centuries until the middle of the 20th century, when it was rediscovered. Chia seeds contain healthy ω-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, proteins, vitamins, and some minerals. Besides this, the seeds are an excellent source of polyphenols and antioxidants, such as caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, myricetin, quercetin, and others. Today, chia has been analyzed in different areas of research. Researches around the world have been investigating the benefits of chia seeds in the medicinal, pharmaceutical, and food industry. Chia oil is today one of the most valuable oils on the market. Different extraction methods have been used to produce the oil. In the present study, an extensive overview of the chemical composition, nutritional properties, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, along with extraction methods used to produce chia oil, will be discussed.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; Molecular Structure; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Salvia; Seeds
PubMed: 31861466
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25010011 -
Planta Medica Aug 2017This review provides a renewed look at the genus . Emphasis will be put on those issues that attracted the most attention or even went through paradigmatic changes since... (Review)
Review
This review provides a renewed look at the genus . Emphasis will be put on those issues that attracted the most attention or even went through paradigmatic changes since the turn of the millennium. PubMed and Google Scholar were used ("" and "Foxglove" were the key words) to identify research from 2000 till 2017 containing data relevant enough to be presented here. Intriguing new results emerged from studies related to the phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus as well as to the biosynthesis and potential medicinal uses of the key active compounds, the cardiac glycosides. Several Eastern and Western Foxgloves were studied with respect to their propagation In this context, molecular biology tools were applied and phytochemical analyses were conducted. Structure elucidation and analytical methods, which have experienced less exciting progress, will not be considered here in great detail.
Topics: Cardiac Glycosides; Digitalis; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 28561136
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-111240 -
Nutrients Feb 2019In the last decade, there has been an increase in the use of sprouted grains in human diet and a parallel increase in the scientific literature dealing with their... (Review)
Review
In the last decade, there has been an increase in the use of sprouted grains in human diet and a parallel increase in the scientific literature dealing with their nutritional traits and phytochemical contents. This review examines the physiological and biochemical changes during the germination process, and the effects on final sprout composition in terms of macro- and micro-nutrients and bioactive compounds. The main factors affecting sprout composition are taken into consideration: genotype, environmental conditions experimented by the mother plant, germination conditions. In particular, the review deepens the recent knowledge on the possible elicitation factors useful for increasing the phytochemical contents. Microbiological risks and post-harvest technologies are also evaluated, and a brief summary is given of some important in vivo studies matching with the use of grain sprouts in the diet. All the species belonging to () family as well as pseudocereals species are included.
Topics: Edible Grain; Germination; Humans; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 30781547
DOI: 10.3390/nu11020421 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023is native to Western Australia. It has become an introduced and fast-growing plant in other parts of the world due to its ability to adapt to drought, saline and... (Review)
Review
is native to Western Australia. It has become an introduced and fast-growing plant in other parts of the world due to its ability to adapt to drought, saline and alkaline soils, and hast growing environments. Studies on the bioactivities and phytochemicals of the plant extracts were conducted. However, comprehensive information that links those bioactivities to the identified compounds in the plant's extracts is still lacking. Data gathered in this review revealed a rich chemical diversity of hydroxybenzoic acids, cinnamic acids, flavonoids, saponins, and pinitols in growing in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, South Africa, and Australia. The variability in phytochemical composition and quantity could be attributed to plant parts, growing locations, extraction solvents, and analysis methods. Identified phytochemicals support observed biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, α-glucosidase inhibition, and anti-inflammation in the extracts. The knowledge of chemical structures, biological activities, and possible mechanisms of action of the bioactive phytochemicals identified in were discussed. In addition, the structure-activity relationships of dominant active compounds were examined to explain the bioactivities exerted by extracts. The review provides valuable insights towards future research and the development of new therapeutics from this plant.
Topics: Acacia; Plant Extracts; Phytochemicals; Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants
PubMed: 37298872
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114396 -
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of... Mar 2023Medicinal plants have a long track record of use in history, and one of them is Commiphora myrrh which is commonly found in the southern part of Arabia, the northeastern... (Review)
Review
Medicinal plants have a long track record of use in history, and one of them is Commiphora myrrh which is commonly found in the southern part of Arabia, the northeastern part of Africa, in Somalia, and Kenya. Relevant literatures were accessed via Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to give updated information on the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological action of Commiphora myrrh. It has been used traditionally for treating wounds, mouth ulcers, aches, fractures, stomach disorders, microbial infections, and inflammatory diseases. It is used as an antiseptic, astringent, anthelmintic, carminative, emmenagogue, and as an expectorant. Phytochemical studies have shown that it contains terpenoids (monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and volatile/essential oil), diterpenoids, triterpenoids, and steroids. Its essential oil has applications in cosmetics, aromatherapy, and perfumery. Research has shown that it exerts various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, analgesic, anti-parasitic, and recently, it was found to work against respiratory infections like COVID-19. With the advancement in drug development, hopefully, its rich phytochemical components can be explored for drug development as an insecticide due to its great anti-parasitic activity. Also, its interactions with drugs can be fully elucidated.This review highlights an updated information on the history, distribution, traditional uses, phytochemical components, pharmacology, and various biological activities of Commiphora myrrh. Graphical summary of the phytochemical and pharmacological update of Commiphora myrrh.
Topics: Humans; Commiphora; COVID-19; Oils, Volatile; Plant Extracts; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 36399185
DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02325-0 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022Cancer is still one of the most widespread diseases globally, it is considered a vital health challenge worldwide and one of the main barriers to long life expectancy.... (Review)
Review
Cancer is still one of the most widespread diseases globally, it is considered a vital health challenge worldwide and one of the main barriers to long life expectancy. Due to the potential toxicity and lack of selectivity of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, discovering alternative treatments is a top priority. Plant-derived natural products have high potential in cancer treatment due to their multiple mechanisms of action, diversity in structure, availability in nature, and relatively low toxicity. In this review, the anticancer mechanisms of the most common phytochemicals were analyzed. Furthermore, a detailed discussion of the anticancer effect of combinations consisting of natural product or natural products with chemotherapeutic drugs was provided. This review should provide a strong platform for researchers and clinicians to improve basic and clinical research in the development of alternative anticancer medicines.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Humans; Neoplasms; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 36080219
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175452 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2021Roxb. (Boraginaceae) has been extensively used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of a diverse range of ailments related to the respiratory system, the... (Review)
Review
Roxb. (Boraginaceae) has been extensively used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of a diverse range of ailments related to the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the reproductive system, and against several infections. This review critically assesses and documents, for the first time, the fragmented information on , including its botanical description, folklore uses, bioactive phyto metabolites and pharmacological activities. The goal is to explore this plant therapeutically. Ethnomedicinal surveys reveal that has been used by tribal communities in Asian countries for the treatment of various disorders. Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical investigations of showed the presence of important phytoconstituents such as pentacyclic triterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, steroids, alkaloids, aliphatic alcohols, hydrocarbons, amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Fresh plant parts, crude extracts, fractions and isolated compounds have been reported to exhibit broad spectrum of therapeutic activities viz., antioxidant, antiarthritic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antidiarrheal, antidysenteric, wound healing and anti-infective activities. is shown to be an excellent potential source of drugs for the mitigation of jaundice, asthma, dysentery, ulcers, diarrhea, ringworm, eczema, diabetes, fissure, syphilis, cuts and wounds, inflammation, liver problems, venereal and infectious disorders. Although few investigations authenticated its traditional uses but employed uncharacterized crude extracts of the plant, the major concerns raised are reproducibility of therapeutic efficacy and safety of plant material. The outcomes of limited pharmacological screening and reported bioactive compounds of suggest that there is an urgent need for in-depth pharmacological investigations of the plant.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asia; Boraginaceae; Ethnopharmacology; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 34201193
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123489 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2021The genus comprises nearly 200 species, naturally occurring in Europe, Asia, and northern parts of Africa. Plants belonging to the genus have been a significant part... (Review)
Review
The genus comprises nearly 200 species, naturally occurring in Europe, Asia, and northern parts of Africa. Plants belonging to the genus have been a significant part of folk medicine in Asia, especially China, Mongolia, and Turkey for centuries. Therefore, they have become the subject of research regarding their phytochemical composition and biological activity. The aim of this review is to present and assess the phytochemical composition, and bioactive potential of species within the genus . Studies have shown the presence of many bioactive compounds like triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, flavonoids, or caffeic acid and quinic acid derivatives in extracts obtained from aerial and subaerial parts of the plants. The antioxidant and cytotoxic properties have been evaluated, together with the mechanism of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hepatoprotective activity. species have also been investigated for their activity against several bacteria and fungi strains. Despite mild cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines in vitro, the bioactive properties in wound healing therapy and the treatment of microbial infections might, in perspective, be the starting point for the research on species as active agents in medical products designed for miscellaneous skin conditions.
Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Scorzonera; Wound Healing
PubMed: 34066212
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105128 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2023Inflammation is currently the most investigated cell response, not only for the frequency with which it occurs but essentially due to the growing incidence of...
Inflammation is currently the most investigated cell response, not only for the frequency with which it occurs but essentially due to the growing incidence of inflammatory diseases, increasingly labeled as characteristics of modern society [...].
Topics: Humans; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Inflammation; Plant Extracts; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 38139272
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417443 -
Pharmaceutical Biology Dec 2022Due to adverse effects of synthetic compounds, there is a growing interest in utilization of plant-derived natural products in the pharmaceutical and food industries.... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
Due to adverse effects of synthetic compounds, there is a growing interest in utilization of plant-derived natural products in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Iranian endemic medicinal plants widely used in traditional practice have attracted much attention as antibacterial and antioxidant agents.
OBJECTIVE
This review attempts to compile the accessible scientific research pertained to phytochemical compounds, antibacterial and antioxidant effects of essential oils obtained from some of the most widely used and distributed medicinal plants in Iran.
METHODS
This review has been compiled using references via reliable databases (Google Scholar, SID and Science Direct) from 2010 to 2020. This literature review was limited to references published in English and Persian languages.
RESULTS
Based on studies heretofore carried out, essential oils isolated from mentioned medicinal plants exhibited strong antioxidant activity which is attributed to their main phytochemical compounds; thymol, carvacrol, -cymene and γ-terpinene. In addition, the antibacterial activities of essential oils of most plant species from Apiaceae and Asteraceae families were more susceptible against Gram-positive bacteria; and than Gram-negative bacteria; however, essential oils of other studied plant species manifested similar behaviours against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria.
CONCLUSIONS
As there is rich ethnobotanical knowledge behind Iranian endemic medicinal plants, further scientific research is required to prove their safety and efficacy. This review revealed that there are numerous valuable medicinal plants adoptable in food and pharmaceutical industries in the near future.
Topics: Ethnobotany; Humans; Iran; Oils, Volatile; Phytochemicals; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 35348418
DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2046112