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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2021(Oliv.) Harms (Araliaceae), also known as and () in Chinese, is a widely used traditional Chinese herb with the effects of expelling wind and removing dampness,... (Review)
Review
(Oliv.) Harms (Araliaceae), also known as and () in Chinese, is a widely used traditional Chinese herb with the effects of expelling wind and removing dampness, relaxing the muscles and stimulating the blood circulation, and regulating the flow of to alleviate pain in the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (AH, thereafter) possesses ginseng-like activities and is known as ginseng-like herb. In the past decade, a great number of phytochemical and pharmacological studies on AH have been carried out. Several kinds of chemical compositions have been reported, including terpenoids (monoterpenoids, diterpenoids, and triterpenoid saponins), phenylpropanoids, caffeoyl quinic acid derivatives, flavonoids, lignans, sterols, fatty acids, etc., among which, triterpenoid saponins were considered to be the most active components. Considerable pharmacological experiments in vitro have demonstrated that AH possessed anti-neuroinflammatory, anti-adipogenic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, anti-AChE, anti-BuChE, and antihyaluronidase activities. The present review is an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the botany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of AH.
Topics: Eleutherococcus; Ethnopharmacology; Phytochemicals; Research
PubMed: 33921386
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082215 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2020Mushrooms have a long history of uses for their medicinal and nutritional properties. They have been consumed by people for thousands of years. Edible mushrooms are... (Review)
Review
Mushrooms have a long history of uses for their medicinal and nutritional properties. They have been consumed by people for thousands of years. Edible mushrooms are collected in the wild or cultivated worldwide. Recently, mushroom extracts and their secondary metabolites have acquired considerable attention due to their biological effects, which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. Thus, in addition to phytochemists, nutritionists and consumers are now deeply interested in the phytochemical constituents of mushrooms, which provide beneficial effects to humans in terms of health promotion and reduction of disease-related risks. In recent years, scientific reports on the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of mushroom have been overwhelming. However, the bioactive compounds and biological properties of wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asian countries have been rarely described. In this review, the bioactive compounds isolated from 25 selected wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asia have been reviewed, together with their biological activities. Phytoconstituents with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities have been highlighted. Several evidences indicate that mushrooms are good sources for natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.
Topics: Agaricales; Antioxidants; Asia, Southeastern; Biological Products; Humans; Molecular Structure; Phenotype; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 32340227
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25081972 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2018Natural products, either pure compounds or standardized plant extracts, have provided opportunities for the discovery of new drugs. Nowadays, most of the world's... (Review)
Review
Natural products, either pure compounds or standardized plant extracts, have provided opportunities for the discovery of new drugs. Nowadays, most of the world's population still relies on traditional medicines for healthcare purposes. Plants, in particular, are always used as traditional medicine, as they contain a diverse number of phytochemicals that can be used for the treatment of diseases. The multicomponent feature in the plants is considered a positive phytotherapeutic hallmark. Hence, ethnopharmacognosy has been the focus for finding alternative treatments for diseases. , also known as , is widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia. Different parts of have been used for treatment of hypertension, menstrual disorder, diabetes, and fever, and as an emmenagogue and tonic. It has also been consumed as salad and as a condiment for food flavorings. The justification of use of in folk medicines is supported by its reported biological activities, including its cytotoxic, antibacterial, antioxidant, analgesic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review summarizes the phytochemical compounds isolated from various parts of , such as root and leaves, and also its biological activities, which could make the species a new therapeutic agent for some diseases, including diabetes, in the future.
Topics: Antioxidants; Diabetes Mellitus; Drug Discovery; Evodia; Humans; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Rutaceae
PubMed: 30347850
DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102708 -
PloS One 2021Medicinal plants represent a great source of antimicrobial and phytochemical constituents which are increasingly used to treat microbial infections and other ailments...
Medicinal plants represent a great source of antimicrobial and phytochemical constituents which are increasingly used to treat microbial infections and other ailments such as tuberculosis, anemia, and trachoma. Despite the use of antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance continues to be a world issue, in as much as nutrition. This study investigated the presence of phytochemicals, proximate compositions, and antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of Carapa procera bark. The bark of Carapa procera was collected, cleaned and air dried for 72 h. The powder obtained was treated with diethyl ether and soaked in methanol (99%) for 72 h to obtain crude extract. The extract was used to test for the presence of phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities. The raw bark was used for proximate analysis. The result showed presence of steroids, tannins and saponins, but no alkaloids present. The 100 mg/mL extract had the highest inhibition zone on all tested organisms from 24.00 ± 0.94 to 26.67 ± 1.18, and 50 mg/mL showed the least (16.67 ± 1.24) on Candida albicans. Staphylococcus aureus showed the lowest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 3.12 mg/mL, whereas the Gram-negative bacteria exhibited variations in their sensitivity with E. coli having the highest MIC of 25 mg/mL. The extract had high MIC (6.25 mg/mL) on Candida albicans than clotrimazole (50 mg/mL). The proximate compositions of Carapa procera were moisture (6.07 ± 0.07%), ash (12.46 ± 0.46%), crude protein (9.54 ± 0.12%), crude fat (1.42 ± 0.06%) and carbohydrate (70.50 ± 0.35%). The energy value was 1413.17 kj. Thus, Carapa procera possesses both antimicrobial and nutritional potentials worth exploring and domesticating for sustainable management and conservation.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Candida albicans; Meliaceae; Phytochemicals; Plant Bark; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 34941952
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261755 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jul 2022Petasites (butterbur, Asteraceae) species have been used since Ancient times in the traditional medicine of Asian and European countries to treat central nervous system... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Petasites (butterbur, Asteraceae) species have been used since Ancient times in the traditional medicine of Asian and European countries to treat central nervous system (migraine), respiratory (asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, spastic cough), cardiovascular (hypertension), gastrointestinal (ulcers) and genitourinary (dysmenorrhea) disorders.
AIM OF THE REVIEW
This study summarized and discussed the traditional uses, phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological aspects of Petasites genus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic search of Petasites in online databases (Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar) was performed, with the aim to find the phytochemical, toxicological and bioactivity studies. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Plants of the World Online, World Flora Online and The Plant List databases were used to describe the taxonomy and geographical distribution.
RESULTS
The detailed phytochemistry of the potentially active compounds of Petasites genus (e.g. sesquiterpenes, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, polyphenols and essential oils components) was presented. The bioactivity studies (cell-free, cell-based, animal, and clinical) including the traditional uses of Petasites (e.g. anti-spasmolytic, hypotensive, anti-asthmatic activities) were addressed and followed by discussion of the main pharmacokinetical and toxicological issues related to the administration of butterbur-based formulations.
CONCLUSIONS
This review provides a complete overview of the Petasites geographical distribution, traditional use, phytochemistry, bioactivity, and toxicity. More than 200 different sesquiterpenes (eremophilanes, furanoeremophilanes, bakkenolides), 50 phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, lignans) and volatile compounds (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes) have been reported within the genus. Considering the phytochemical complexity and the polypharmacological potential, there is a growing research interest to extend the current therapeutical applications of Petasites preparations (anti-migraine, anti-allergic) to other human ailments, such as central nervous system, cardiovascular, malignant or microbial diseases. This research pathway is extremely important, especially in the recent context of the pandemic situation, when there is an imperious need for novel drug candidates.
Topics: Animals; Ethnobotany; Ethnopharmacology; Medicine, Traditional; Petasites; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 35427728
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115263 -
BioMed Research International 2022Ethiopia is one of Africa's six plant-rich countries, with around 60% of the plants being indigenous and most of them having medicinal properties. 80% of people in the... (Review)
Review
Ethiopia is one of Africa's six plant-rich countries, with around 60% of the plants being indigenous and most of them having medicinal properties. 80% of people in the country use these plants as a primary health care system to tackle different diseases, including cancer. This review is aimed at summarizing the evidence gained from diverse MPs in Ethiopia that have been used ethnobotanically and ethnopharmacologically for treatment of cancer. The primary data sources were Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and other electronic scientific databases. This literature review showed that there are around 200 MPs used as anticancer. Seventy-four herbs, 39 trees, 77 shrubs, and 17 weed/climbers belonging to 56 families have been identified for their ethnobotanical anticancer potential, and 31 species were recognized for their pharmaceutically anticancer activities. The reviewed data also indicated that many Ethiopian MPs had been used to treat breast, lung, blood, and skin cancers and other tumors. Besides, the collected data showed that the leaves (36.76%), roots (27.2%), bark (12.5%), stem (5.1%), and fruit (7.35%) of plants are commonly used for the preparation of anticancer remedies. Among the reported plant species, Euphorbiaceae (10.71%), Acanthaceae (7.14%), and Asteraceae (7.1%) are the most prominent plant families being used to treat cancer ethnobotanically. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids (like xanthone, indirubin, flavopiridol, and silybin), alkaloids (like taxol, vincristine, evodiamine, and berberine), and physalin B, D, and F steroids exhibited anticancer activity on various cancer cell lines. The crude extracts of , , , , and were powerful anticancer agents with an IC value below 10 g/mL. Although several Ethiopian plants possess anticancer potential, only a limited number of plants are scientifically studied. Therefore, more scientific studies on anticancer MPs should be carried out; it may lead to discovering and isolating cost-effective and safe anticancer drugs.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Ethiopia; Ethnopharmacology; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 35155671
DOI: 10.1155/2022/1589877 -
Nutrients Aug 2023During aging, several tissues and biological systems undergo a progressive decline in function, leading to age-associated diseases such as neurodegenerative,... (Review)
Review
During aging, several tissues and biological systems undergo a progressive decline in function, leading to age-associated diseases such as neurodegenerative, inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this review, we focus on the molecular underpinning of senescence and neurodegeneration related to age-associated brain diseases, in particular, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, along with introducing nutrients or phytochemicals that modulate age-associated molecular dysfunctions, potentially offering preventive or therapeutic benefits. Based on current knowledge, the dysregulation of microglia genes and neuroinflammation, telomere attrition, neuronal stem cell degradation, vascular system dysfunction, reactive oxygen species, loss of chromosome X inactivation in females, and gut microbiome dysbiosis have been seen to play pivotal roles in neurodegeneration in an interactive manner. There are several phytochemicals (e.g., curcumin, EGCG, fucoidan, galangin, astin C, apigenin, resveratrol, phytic acid, acacetin, daucosterol, silibinin, sulforaphane, withaferin A, and betulinic acid) that modulate the dysfunction of one or several key genes (e.g., TREM2, C3, C3aR1, TNFA, NF-kb, TGFB1&2, SIRT1&6, HMGB1, and STING) affected in the aged brain. Although phytochemicals have shown promise in slowing down the progression of age-related brain diseases, more studies to identify their efficacy, alone or in combinations, in preclinical systems can help to design novel nutritional strategies for the management of neurodegenerative diseases in humans.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Brain; Aging; Brain Diseases; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 37571393
DOI: 10.3390/nu15153456 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2022Breast cancer is a common and deadly disease that causes tremendous physical, emotional, and financial burden on patients and society. Early-stage breast cancer and less... (Review)
Review
Breast cancer is a common and deadly disease that causes tremendous physical, emotional, and financial burden on patients and society. Early-stage breast cancer and less aggressive subtypes have promising prognosis for patients, but in aggressive subtypes, and as cancers progress, treatment options and responses diminish, dramatically decreasing survival. Plants are nutritionally rich and biologically diverse organisms containing thousands of metabolites, some of which have chemopreventive, therapeutic, and sensitizing properties, providing a rich source for drug discovery. In this study we review the current landscape of breast cancer with a central focus on the potential role of phytochemicals for treatment, management, and disease prevention. We discuss the relevance of phytochemical targeting of mitochondria for improved anti-breast cancer efficacy. We highlight current applications of phytochemicals and derivative structures that display anti-cancer properties and modulate cancer mitochondria, while describing future applicability and identifying areas of promise.
Topics: Humans; Female; Chemoprevention; Breast Neoplasms; Phytochemicals; Mitochondria
PubMed: 36430632
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214152 -
PloS One 2023Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels have shown numerous health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. These health activities are...
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels have shown numerous health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. These health activities are owed to the unique phytochemical components present in pomegranate peels. Variations in the pomegranate cultivar, geographical region, and extraction methods significantly affect the phytochemical composition and concentrations of pomegranate fruits and their peels, hence their health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the phytochemical contents of pomegranate peels of Jordanian origin and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Among the 6 extracts of pomegranate peels tested, the ethanol extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC = 297.70 ± 1.73 mg GAE/g DW), highest total flavonoids content (TFC = 116.08 ± 3.46 mg RE/g DW), highest hydrolyzable tannins (HT) contents (688.50 ± 3.54 mg TE/g DW). Whereas the highest condensed tannins (CT) content was found in both the ethanol (13.87 ± 0.58 mg CE/g DW) and methanol (13.84 ± 0.55 mg CE/g DW) extracts. For the antioxidant activities, the water extract of pomegranate peels displayed the highest inhibitory effect on DPPH radicals (9.43 ± 0.06 μmole TE/g DW), while for the ABTS+ assay the methanol and ethanol extracts exhibited the highest activities of 11.09 ± 0.02 and 11.09 ± 0.06 μmole TE/g DW, respectively. For the FRAP assay, the aqueous methanol extract exhibited the highest reducing activity (1.60 ± 0.09 mmole Fe (II)/g DW). As for the antimicrobial activities of various extracts of pomegranate peels, the highest antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus was achieved by the ethanol extract (MIC = 6.25 mg/mL), whereas the lowest antimicrobial activity was observed against Candida krusei using the methanol extract (MIC = 100 mg/mL). These results indicate that pomegranate peels of Jordanian origin are rich in phytochemical content and exhibited strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities making these agroindustrial by-products potential candidates for various medical applications and possible safe sources for important bioactive components.
Topics: Antioxidants; Fruit; Pomegranate; Plant Extracts; Jordan; Methanol; Phytochemicals; Ethanol; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 38032959
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295129 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2021Sweet cherries ( L.) are among the most appreciated fruits worldwide because of their organoleptic properties and nutritional value. The accurate phytochemical... (Review)
Review
Sweet cherries ( L.) are among the most appreciated fruits worldwide because of their organoleptic properties and nutritional value. The accurate phytochemical composition and nutritional value of sweet cherries depends on the climatic region, cultivar, and bioaccessibility and bioavailability of specific compounds. Nevertheless, sweet cherry extracts are highly enriched in several phenolic compounds with relevant bioactivity. Over the years, technological advances in chemical analysis and fields as varied as proteomics, genomics and bioinformatics, have allowed the detailed characterization of the sweet cherry bioactive phytonutrients and their biological function. In this context, the effect of sweet cherries on suppressing important events in the carcinogenic process, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, was widely documented. Interestingly, results from our research group and others have widened the action of sweet cherries to many hallmarks of cancer, namely metabolic reprogramming. The present review discusses the anticarcinogenic potential of sweet cherries by addressing their phytochemical composition, the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of specific bioactive compounds, and the existing knowledge concerning the effects against oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, deregulated cell proliferation and apoptosis, invasion and metastization, and metabolic alterations. Globally, this review highlights the prospective use of sweet cherries as a dietary supplement or in cancer treatment.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Phytochemicals; Prunus avium
PubMed: 34063349
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26102941